[Published: Saturday January 15 2011]

UN urges end to use of excessive force against Tunisian protesters
Geneva, 15 Jan – (ANA) - A group of independent United Nations human rights experts have urged the Tunisian Government to control the use of force against peaceful demonstrators, after 21 deaths were officially confirmed over a two-day period between 8 and 9 January.
The call echoes the one made by UN human rights chief Navi Pillay on Wednesday
amid the ongoing street protests in the North African country by civilians
reportedly angered by rising prices of essential commodities, lack of employment
opportunities, alleged corruption and limitations on fundamental rights and
freedoms.
The UN human rights office in Geneva said credible rights
groups have reported “a much higher number of killings” than 21 since the
beginning of the protests in mid-December.
The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions,
Christof Heyns, warned that “the killing of innocent civilians is a clear
violation of international law and is totally unacceptable in any society.” (ANA)
FA/ANA/15 January 2011------
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