Ben Ali: “I thought about running away to Algeria before Saudi Arabia”

Tunisian toppled President Zinelabidine Ben Ali Monday said he had the choice between going to Algeria or Saudi Arabia when he ran away from revolutionaries on January 14th.

Ben Ali said there was a plot against him and he finally chose to travel to Saudi Arabia and live there.

He admitted that he made many mistakes when he was in power. “No one can deny some successful policies in my ruling in education and women’s rights field,” he told a French-speaking website in Tunisia.

Speaking about the Tunisian revolution, he said he was told his family’s life was in danger. “I reacted as any father who is concerned about his children. I decided to leave the country on plane but I was going to come back once I took my family to a safe place. I had the choice between Algeria and Saudi Arabia.”

“I did not run away. I got to the plane without taking my medicines neither my glasses. I even left my written last speech on my desk in Cartage Palace. That was the fourth speech which was supposed to be delivered to people. I was going to announce a national unity new cabinet ahead of parliamentary elections,” he added.

Ben Ali described the days which followed his arrival to Saudi Arabia as “difficult.”

“As soon as the plane landed, I had stayed with my family for an hour. I said goodbye to them and I remained in the VIP room waiting for the plane to get fuel so that I could come back to Tunisia. Two hours later, the plane took off and the staff did not take me with them,” he added.

Tunisia’s former president accused some parts of plotting against him, saying they were behind the plan to take him away from the country.

“I swear I did not order to open fire on protesters. I had waited for a week until January 8th, 2011 and I ordered to use force to defend security stations. I received reports saying that masked armed groups killed policemen and gendarmes.”