Tunisian soldiers fired in the air on Tuesday to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in the central city of Gefsa and a young man set himself alight inside the regional labour union headquarters in protest, witnesses said. It appeared to be the first time the Tunisian army had intervened in the demonstrations since the ousting of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on January 14, and comes a day after an influential general said the army was ready to protect the revolution.
General Rachid Ammar's refusal to crack down on protesters was seen as a turning point that forced Ben Ali to flee. Witnesses identified the man who set himself alight as Alaadine Kmat and said he had suffered severe burns but remained alive. Kmat entered the union building after the army intervened in a protest outside the union headquarters to demand better economic opportunities.