Tunisian protesters demand development

Protesters rallied in the streets of two Tunisian cities on Monday demanding the government focus more on development. Meanwhile, a number of angry citizens in the Tunisian city of Gabes dismissed the governor.   Dozens of residents from the city of Ain ??Draham in Jendouba governorate threatened to secede to bordering Algeria, following the failure of talks with authorities on development issues. Ain ??Draham residents organised a general strike in protest against the "marginalisation" of their city and not being granted a share of development projects. The strike included all industries except bakeries, pharmacies and health centres. Strikers closed the entrances of the city and did not allow anyone to pass except news media and emergency services. In a step to escalate their demands after negotiations with government officials in Jendouba governorate failed, citizens threatened to leave for Algerian .A hundred and fifty citizens crossed the border and gathered near the Algerian side of the gate, asking Algerian border police to allow them access. In Gabes, hundreds of angry citizens forced the governor to leave the building in protest of his failure to address outstanding issues of development and follow a security option to tackle the issues without dialogue. Tunisia's Oasis FM radio station said that the governor, Shabana Omar, who was appointed less than a month and a half ago, left the headquarters of the governorate under the protection of the army after his office was stormed by protesters. Security forces used tear gas to disperse the activists after they took off the front door. The governor, affiliated to Tunisia's ruling Ennahda party, was criticised for failing to tackle social issues as disgruntled citizens protested across the region.