Tunisian Police Chief Fires On Crowd, Kills Two

The official Tunisian news agency says a police chief in the northwestern town of Klef fired at a crowd of angry people, killing at least two and injuring 17 others.

Regional prefect Mohamed Najib Tlijali, calling for calm, said the police officer was under arrest.

A statement by the Interior Ministry, in charge of police, said some 1,000 citizens threw stones and small firebombs at the police station in a surge of anger after the police chief reportedly abused his authority. The crowd burned two cars and a police vehicle, a ministry statement said.

Tunisia remains tense after demonstrations pushed autocratic president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, into exile on January 13.

compiled from agency reports