Tunisia prevents a demonstration against the war on Iraq

Some 11 oppositions parties and civilian groups said yesterday that the government prevented them from organizing a demonstration in the downtown of the capita Tunisia in protest of the an American war against Iraq. Eye- witnesses said that hundreds of riot fighting forces and secret police were deployed in the center of the city to prevent the demonstration.

In a joint statement, the parties and the groups said that the ministry of the interior informed leaders of the political parties that it was decided to ban the demonstration of protest due to be on Friday for security reasons.