On December 17, twenty six year old Mohamed Bouazizi stood in front of the provincial headquarters building in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia and set himself on fire. This action was in response to authorities who had confiscated his unregistered vegetable cart, slapped him, spit in his face and insulted his family. Mr. Bouazizi tried to complain, but was refused an audience by officials. This self immolation stood as a rallying cry for disenfranchised Tunisians who protested against unemployment, rising food prices, corruption and limited civil liberties. The massive protests resulted in the country's president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, fleeing his country on January 15, 2011, after 23 years in power. This "Jasmine Revolution" inspired similar protests though out the arab world, including Jordan, Yemen and Egypt. On January 24 T and I departed for Egypt, starting
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