From Associated Press

Clashes erupted Wednesday in two Tunisian cities when protesters attacked symbols of the state during demonstrations calling for greater investment in their impoverished regions. Dozens of protesters attempted to storm government offices in the southern mining town of Gafsa before being driven back by tear gas.

They later ransacked the local headquarters of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party that dominates the government, tossing the furniture out the third story windows and setting it alight in the street while crowds cheered. In the northwestern city of Siliana, young men threw stones at police and attacked their stations after the main demonstrations, before being driven off by security forces.

General strikes were held in Siliana, Gafsa and the coastal city Gabes protesting poor economic conditions and what protesters say are unequal investment opportunities favoring the capital and nearby cities. Tunisia kicked off the Arab Spring by overthrowing its dictator in 2011, partly over the lack of jobs for young people, especially in the impoverished interior.

Nearly three years after the revolution, however, the elected Islamist-led government has been unable to energize the economy or redress the historic inequalities between the wealthier coast and the interior.

“We live in desperate conditions because of unemployment, poverty and misery and we are only asking to live in dignity,” said Badreddine Hamlaoui, a 19 year-old who lost an eye to birdshot during protests in Siliana a year ago. “I ask myself why Siliana is neglected and excluded from development.”

Written by Bouazza Ben Bouazza| Read more at Associated Press