A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Authorities in Tunisia detain Ben Ali advisers
TUNIS – Tunisian authorities have placed in detention three senior officials who were close to ousted president Zine al- Abidine Ben Ali, including two of his top advisers, according to a judicial source.
The source said the three, who had been placed under house arrest after Ben Ali was toppled on January 14th, were accused of embezzlement and abuse of power and moved to a prison 15km from the capital Tunis on Saturday.
Among them was Abdelaziz bin Dhia, Mr Ben Ali’s main political adviser, and Abdelwahhab Abdalla, another top aide. – (Reuters)
Warning on BBC's 'core' local services
LONDON – British culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has cautioned against reductions in the BBC’s “core services” amid fears the corporation may dramatically scale back its local radio output.
The BBC is thought to be considering axing all but local breakfast and drivetime programming, filling the gaps with Five Live. Mr Hunt said the 16 per cent real terms funding cut for the BBC should be “largely about efficiency gains”. – (PA)
Five hurt in riot at prison in Tikrit
TIKRIT – At least five guards and five inmates were hurt when a riot erupted yesterday in a prison in former Iraqi leader Saddam Husseins home city of Tikrit.
“We received 10 wounded people, five policeman and five prisoners,” a police source at Tikrit hospital said. “Some of them were seriously wounded.”
Another police source said some people had also been killed, although this could not be immediately confirmed. – (Reuters)