Tunisia hands ousted dictator additional charges

TUNIS, Tunisia – The official TAP news agency says Tunisia's toppled president and his wife are facing additional charges of wrongdoing in a bloody crackdown that followed his January ouster.

Wednesday's report cites a Justice Ministry statement as saying Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and former first lady Leila Trabelsi are facing charges including "inciting disorder, murder or pillaging on Tunisian soil."

The charges stem from an incident in the town of Ouardanine on Jan. 15, the day after Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia. Four youths were killed as a crowd tried to prevent Ben Ali's nephew from fleeing.

The victims' families allege the former strongman ordered the security forces to open fire.

Ben Ali is already facing 18 separate charges.