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Deadly prison fire kills 42 people in Tunisia

A fire has swept through a prison in the Tunisian resort town of Monastir , killing at least 42 people amid continuing unrest following the removal of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Looting hit the suburbs of the capital Tunis after he fled the country on Friday.  Troops are now patrolling the city centre and a state of emergency is in force. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has said his priority is restoring order. Mr Ghannouchi also said he would hold talks with opposition parties. A doctor at Monastir hospital told the BBC it had received 42 bodies so far following the prison fire. The identities of the victims and the cause of the fire are still unclear. An eyewitness in the city, about 160km (100 miles) south of Tunis, told Reuters news agency: "The whole prison is on fire, the furniture, mattresses, everything." In Tunis the main thoroughfare, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, was blocked by security forces after an overnight curfew was lifted. Troops and tanks...