Optimum News 12 Newsday.com MSG Varsity Explore LI AM New York Optimum Autos Optimum Homes

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

Arab leaders pose for a family photo prior to the opening ceremony of the Arab summit in Damascus on March 29, 2008. Front row (L-R) Morocco's Prince Moulay Rachid, Comoros Islands President Ahmed Abdullah Sambi, Palestinain president Mahmud Abbas, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir, Libyan Leader Moamer al-Kadhafi, Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, United Arab Emirates's President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan and Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Ahmed al-Sabah. Syria is hosting today a summit boycotted this year by half of the Arab world's leaders who blame Damascus for the political crisis in Lebanon.

Around the web

More from around the web »

advertisement | advertise on newsday

About Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (Arabic: زين العابدين بن علي‎, Zayn al-‘Ābidīn bin ‘Alī; born 3 September 1936) is the former President of the Tunisian Republic. He held the office from 7 November, 1987, until he was forced to step down and flee the country on 14 January, 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and assumed the Presidency in November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état from then President Habib Bourguiba, who was declared incompetent. Ben Ali was subsequently re-elected with enormous majorities at every election, the final time being 25 October, 2009.

from Wikipedia

advertisement | advertise on newsday