Swiss woman killed watching demo in Tunisia

The Swiss foreign ministry has confirmed radio reports that a Swiss woman has been killed in unrest in the north of the country.

The woman was a Swiss-Tunisian with dual nationality.

Swiss French-language radio reported on Thursday that the victim, aged 67, was killed by a stray bullet while watching a demonstration in the town of Dar Chaabane on Wednesday evening.

The woman, who was employed at the university hospital in the western Swiss city of Lausanne, was hit while watching the demonstration from a terrace with about a dozen other people.

Her brother told the radio that she was hit in the neck and died on the spot.

There has been unrest in Tunisia since mid-December caused by rising unemployment and dwindling prosperity under a strict regime.

Several fire bombs were hurled on Wednesday at the Tunisian embassy in Bern. The devices failed to explode, causing minor damage and no injuries.