<p>In the 13-minute message posted to jihadist websites, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) leader Abu Musab Abdul Wadud purportedly urges Tunisians to overthrow President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled Tunisia since 1987. A mass uprising which began amid protests over unemployment, food prices and corruption had forced Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia Friday. <br /><br />"Send your children to us for training on how to use weapons and to get military experience," said the message. <br /><br />According to human rights groups, more than 60 people have died in clashes between protesters and security forces in Tunisia since mid-December last year.<br /><br />The former speaker of parliament, Foued Mbazaa, was sworn in as interim president of Tunisisa Saturday.<br /><br />The Al Qaeda tape has called on all Tunisians "to bring down Ben Ali's corrupt, criminal and tyrannical regime" and introduce Islamic law in the North African country. <br /><br />US SITE intelligence said the message also praised anti-government protesters in neighbouring Algeria, where youths took to the streets to protest rising prices of staples like sugar and cooking oil.<br /><br />Tunisia has come under increasing pressure from the US and other nations to curb its violent response to the month-long protests. <br /></p>
<p>In the 13-minute message posted to jihadist websites, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) leader Abu Musab Abdul Wadud purportedly urges Tunisians to overthrow President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled Tunisia since 1987. A mass uprising which began amid protests over unemployment, food prices and corruption had forced Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia Friday. <br /><br />"Send your children to us for training on how to use weapons and to get military experience," said the message. <br /><br />According to human rights groups, more than 60 people have died in clashes between protesters and security forces in Tunisia since mid-December last year.<br /><br />The former speaker of parliament, Foued Mbazaa, was sworn in as interim president of Tunisisa Saturday.<br /><br />The Al Qaeda tape has called on all Tunisians "to bring down Ben Ali's corrupt, criminal and tyrannical regime" and introduce Islamic law in the North African country. <br /><br />US SITE intelligence said the message also praised anti-government protesters in neighbouring Algeria, where youths took to the streets to protest rising prices of staples like sugar and cooking oil.<br /><br />Tunisia has come under increasing pressure from the US and other nations to curb its violent response to the month-long protests. <br /></p>