Tunisia: Over 1,000 march against 'corruption whitewashing' law

Over 1,200 protesters took to the biggest street of the Tunisian capital, Tunis, on Saturday to march against the new bill for 'economic reconciliation' that was introduced by the Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi in mid July. The draft law aims to turn the page and to offer amnesty for former businessmen and civil servants accused of corruption or who have benefited from corruption during the rule of the late President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The protesters marched towards the Tunisian Ministry of Interior under a heavy police presence, following an initial ban on the demonstration, but the protesters still went out to demonstrate waving flags of the 'Front de populaire de Tunisisie', a left-wing political party that organised the march. They chanted slogans against the new law, demanding justice and for those responsible to be accounted for.