Journalist sets himself on fire over harsh living conditions

Abdel Razaq Zorgi, a 32-year-old journalist has died after setting himself on fire over harsh living conditions in Tunisia.  

His death sparked protests in the city after dark and clashes overnight with police who fired tear gas at dozens of people who had set tyres ablaze and blocked the main street.

Six members of the security forces were injured and nine protesters were detained, interior ministry spokesperson Sofiane al-Zaq said but after a brief morning calm, protesters were back on the streets of Kasserine in the afternoon after Zorgi’s funeral.

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Authorities also deployed reinforcements on the main streets of Kasserine, 270 kilometres (165 miles) from the capital Tunis. “For the sons of Kasserine who have no means of subsistence, today I start a revolution. I am going to set myself on fire,” Zorgi said in a video published before his death