Tunisian report shows increase in arrests

A new report released by the Tunisian Interior Ministry on Tuesday shows an increase in the number of people detained by security forces in the first half of 2013 compared to the same period last year. According to the report, 77,504 people were arrested in the first six months of this year in comparison to 59,084 in 2012. At least 3766 defendants faced robbery charges, whilst 3652 were accused of being involved in violence of some sort. On the matter of public security, the report said there were 1001 demonstrations across the country, including 194 strikes, 44 road blocks and 24 cases of power or water cuts. The Tunisian government has previously said that it views the threats to public security as the most severe challenges it is facing during the democratic transition period. Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki ?recently announced extending the country’s state of emergency which has been in place since the ousting of former president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.?