A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Tunisia: Interior Minister Fired, Rumors Rampant

Tunisia has fired Interior Minister Rafiq Belhaj Kacem and ordered the release of at least some of those arrested in recent weeks, in an apparent move to conciliate the protesters amid rumors running rampant suggesting that things were nearing a crisis. Since real information remains scant, rumors of dissent in the Army and a potential coup may be (and given the history, probably are) fantasy, but clearly the crisis was reaching a breaking point and some move had to be taken.

The question is whether it was in time to save the situation. That remains to be seen.

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