#1
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A State of emergency has been declared after the Tunisian president dismissed the Government. Tonight is was announced that airspace around the troubled country had been closed - stranding people inside. It comes after nearly 3,300 British tourists were trying to get home from strife-torn Tunisia today. Travel company Thomas Cook said it was suspending its Tunisia programme and evacuating 1,800 holidaymakers from the North African country. First Choice said it had 1,500 there. Six flights were bringing the tourists home, with the first due to arrive at Manchester at 2.30pm today. Four flights are due to come in to Manchester and two to Gatwick in West Sussex. Last night Thomson and First Choice said they planned to bring all its customers safely back to the UK within the next 48 hours. Today Thomson and First Choice has put in place a rescue flight to bring home 100 customers and this aircraft has now taken off from Monastir airport and is due to arrive in Manchester tonight at 8.30pm. Tunisia has been rocked by unrest sparked by anger at unemployment and at a leadership many see as controlling and corrupt. Today thousands of angry demonstrators marched through Tunisia's capital, Tunis, to demand the resignation of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Thomas Cook said today: "Although there has been no specific problems for our holidaymakers, their well-being is our primary concern so, as a precaution, we've taken the decision to bring them back to the UK as soon as we can, using our fleet of aircraft today." The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Tunisia. A spokesman said: "There have been demonstrations, some violent, in multiple locations across the country. "The situation is unpredictable and there is the potential for violence to flare up, raising the risk of getting caught up in demonstrations. "British nationals in Tunisia should monitor the news or stay in touch with your tour operator." Thomas Cook added it had also cancelled its flights to Tunisia due to leave on Sunday and was "reviewing the situation" for the flights planned for next Wednesday. Holiday companies First Choice and Thomson said they had cancelled all excursions due to take place in Tunisia today and had also cancelled the Thomson Airways' flights due to leave for Tunisia on Sunday. But the companies said they were only bringing home those customers who wished to leave. They added: "At this time, customers may continue their holidays in Tunisia as planned, to return home as scheduled. "Our experienced overseas teams are updating our customers in resorts of the situation and we are organising aircraft today for those customers wishing to return home." They said no decision had yet been taken on flights due to depart for Tunisia after Sunday. The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said: "Those tourists who are currently in Tunisia should continue to remain vigilant, and follow advice from their tour operator and the Foreign Office. "There have been no reports of British nationals being affected by the unrest and foreigners are unlikely to be targeted. However, tourists should remain cautious and vigilant and continue to follow the advice of their tour operator, local authorities and the FO. "We estimate around 5,000 British tourists are currently in the country in a number of different resorts. These include Sousse, Portel Kantoui, Hammamet, Djerba, Skanes and Mahdia." The company added customers of Abta members who have booked package holidays to Tunisia but have not yet travelled will be entitled to receive suitable alternative arrangements, rebook for a later date or, where these are not available, a full refund. |
#3
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Disturbing to say the least. Great story, Kel!!
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#4
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I don't know how anyone would just carry on their bloody holiday, fuck that get the foooook out of dodge. Cheers Kel. |
#5
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The people are victorious! ....the puppet regime has gone down! Let this be a warning to all arab states who deny freedoms to the people. |
#6
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BRITISH tourists fled Tunisia in their thousands last night as protests against the President turned into a bloodbath. Thomas Cook was evacuating 1,800 customers while Thomson and First Choice announced plans to bring home 1,500. The Foreign Office warned against all but essential travel to the North African country where a state of emergency was declared following riots nationwide. The first holiday jets touched down in Britain tonight. Some compared the scenes on the streets of the North African country to a war zone. The travellers were enjoying winter sun breaks when tour operators ordered them to leave on advice from the Foreign Office. Some had been in Tunisia only a matter of hours. The evacuation came as buildings were set on fire and property looted as protesters defied an overnight curfew. During the chaos more than 1,000 prisoners escaped from two jails and 42 inmates were killed. As he stepped off Thomson flight 965 at Manchester Airport, Adam Wallace, 22, said: "When we went to the airport today it was a bit unnerving. "There were police stood on the corners of roads and groups of people hanging about. It did feel a bit intimidating." The security manager, from Accrington, Lancs, added: "There were a few smashed up buildings, there was a petrol station that had been vandalised and there were people looting, but our resort was quite a way from the trouble. "The feeling in the hotel was obviously disappointment that we have to go home but it's one of them things. The Foreign Office made the decision and we had to go for our own safety. Ross Wiseman, from Sunderland, was less than 36 hours into his holiday when he and his family were brought home. "In the complex we didn't see much, except on the balconies you could see in the distance fire and smoke covering the towns," he said. "Going about the streets before the curfew there were smashed windows, burned out cars just one big mess really." Thousands marched in capital Tunis yesterday demanding the resignation of pro-American President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who is seen as corrupt. Unconfirmed reports said five died in clashes with cops. The overall official death toll is 23 - but human rights groups put it nearer 60. The president fled the country last night in a private jet which landed in Sardinia. The pilot was ordered to leave and was reported to be heading to the Gulf. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi announced on state TV he is assuming power. The state of emergency, meanwhile, bans gatherings of more than three people. Those not complying could be shot. An estimated 5,000 Brits are in Tunisia. Most travelling with Thomas Cook were due to have been repatriated by this morning. Thomson and First Choice said their customers would be brought home "as quickly as possible". |
#7
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teh arab states deny rights to their people, and the UNITED states in a way, does the same. we talk about freedoms, and non-oppression, but we jsut do not realise how many of our rights get whittled away with every congressional vote. Unfortunately for those states, every time the people stand up for their rights, they lose a large chunk of their econo,y....tourism....European tourism.....That (and the ones that have oil.....excluding oil ) is their bread and butter. |
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#10
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yep.^
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