Tunis (ANTARA News/AFP) - Tunisian authorities on Tuesday extended a state of emergency but ordered an end to a nationwide curfew, the official news agency TAP said, citing an interior ministry statement.

"To prevent anything that may harm the security of the state and to ensure the security of citizens and protection of public and private goods, it was decided to extend the state of emergency from Tuesday Februari 15 until further notice," the statement noted.

The state of emergency had been imposed on January 14 just as strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country in the face of a popular revolt.

The ministry also said the nationwide curfew, in force since January 12 at the height of the popular revolt against Ben Ali, was being lifted across the country.(*)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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