Tunisia's ex-president goes on trial in absentia

Tunisia's former autocratic ruler, whose ouster triggered a series of Arab world uprisings, goes on trial in absentia Monday in the first of what will likely be a long series of court proceedings five months after he went into exile.

The Tunis Criminal Court is hearing two embezzlement, money laundering and drug trafficking cases against Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. It follows the discovery of around $27 million in jewels and cash plus drugs and weapons at two palaces outside Tunis after he flew to Saudi Arabia on January 14. (AP)