Le Kef — The military court of le Kef sentenced Wednesday ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to life in jail in absentia over the killings of protesters in the central cities of Thala and Kasserine.

His former security chief Ali Seriati and former interior minister Ahmed Friaa as well as other officials were acquitted.

In this case, 22 other senior officials are on trial for killing 22 protesters and wounding hundreds on January 7, 2011, in the towns of Thala, Kasserine, Kairouan and Tajerouine.

Of these 22 senior officials, former interior minister Rakik Haj Kacem was sentenced to 12 years in jail and other security chiefs to up to 15 years.

The verdict provoked great anger among the families of the victims attending the hearing.