Activists and unions says the Tunisian government has released dozens of prisoners accused of taking part in violent protests last year.Messaoud Romdhani, head of a committee supporting the prisoners, said Thursday 60 people were released on parole a day earlier. The government's move came as Tunisia marked the 22nd anniversary of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's rise to power in a palace coup.
The prisoners were arrested, tried and sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to eight years following protests in June-July 2008 in Tunisia's Gafsa mining region.
Violent clashes broke out between protesters and police, and three demonstrators died. Demonstrators were protesting high unemployment and poor living conditions.
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