Tunisian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday the death of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali at the age of 83 after a long struggle with illness.
Ben Ali, who ruled Tunisia from November 1987 to 2011, died in Saudi Arabia, where he sought refuge on January 14, 2011, after being overthrown by the December 17, 2010 revolution.
The former president is expected to be buried in Saudi Arabia.
Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, only to assume the Presidency one month later in a coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba.
He was reelected numerous times with 90% majorities, until his final re-election in 2009.
Ben Ali joined the resistance against French colonial forces and later joined the newly formed Tunisian Army in 1958.
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Ben Ali in 1961[/caption]
Nonetheless, he was grated training at the Special Inter-service School and the Artillery School in France. He also received training at the Senior Intelligence School in Maryland and the School for Anti-Aircraft Field Artillery in Texas.
Returning to Tunisia in 1964, he began his professional military career as a staff officer, establishing the Military Security Department and directing its operations for 10 consecutive years.
Ben Ali also served as the military attaché in both Morocco and Spain before being appointed as the General Director of National Security in 1977.
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