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The US is hoping that the "example" of the Tunisian uprising will bring reform to other parts of the region, Jeffrey Feltman, the country's top-ranking envoy for the Middle East, has said on a visit to the capital Tunis. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Tunisian president, whom Washington considered one of its staunch allies, fled the country amid violent protests on 14 January 2011, after 23 years in power. "I certainly expect that we'll be using the Tunisian example" in talks with other Arab governments, Feltman told journalists in the Tunisian capital. "The challenges being faced in many parts of the world, particularly in the Arab world, are the same and we hope people will be addressing legitimate political, social, economic grievances," he said. Feltman said he would travel to France on Wednesday for talks on the situation in Tunisia and Lebanon following the visit to Tunis. Hundreds of people rallied for the first time in support of Tunisi...

Tunisia's President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has stepped down and fled away to Saudi Arabia amid widespread protests on the streets of the capital Tunis of the country on Friday January 14, 2011.  Thousands of people had been staging demonstrations against the President of the North-African country protesting economic crises, higher unemployment rate, and  food and fuel prices upsurge, sources said. However, Mr. Ben Ali had to leave the power after 23 years in power in a state of emergency in the country in the face month-long protest. He took shelter in Saudi Arabia with his whole family after France defied to give shelter for Mr. Ali.  Mr. Ali took all out ways to keep hold of power. He also smashed his cabinet earlier to restore law and order situation in the country and tried to reconcile with the protesters.    In a televised address, Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi said he would be taking over. A state of emergency was de...