Former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has died in Saudi Arabia aged 83, according to Tunisian media reports.
Tunisian Mosaique FM and Achourouk newspaper reported his death on Thursday, citing non-Tunisian sources. Mr Ben Ali's lawyer told Reuters he was unable to confirm the report that the ousted president had died.
The divisive leader was ousted from power in the 2011 uprising in the North African country.
Before his political career, he took part in local resistance against French colonial forces. He rose through the Tunisian political elite to become president in a 1987 coup.
He then served as the country's leader for 23 years until unrest broke out in 2011, sparked by the self-immolation of a market trader over his treatment by police.
The National
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