Tunisia’s previous president Marzouki condemned to prison in absentia

A Tunisian court has sentenced former president Moncef Marzouki to four years in jail on charges of conspiring against state security, the TAP state news agency said Wednesday.

Marzouki, who resides in Paris and was tried in absentia, criticised Tunisia’s President Kais Saied earlier this year, saying he staged a coup. He also called on France to end support for the current administration.

Saied suspended parliament and dismissed the government in July, before later appointing a government and announcing a plan for a referendum and elections next year.