Tunisia expels Swiss human rights activist

TUNIS, May 22 (Reuters) Tunisia has deported a Swiss human rights activist who strongly criticised the North African government, a rights activist and government source said today.

Yves Steiner, an official from Amnesty International's Swiss branch, was arrested by police yesterday while attending a meeting of Amnesty's Tunisia chapter.

''Steiner criticised the government's human rights record as he addressed the meeting. His remarks were relatively stinging compared to the others,'' said a senior Amnesty activist in Tunis, who declined to be named.

Human rights groups at home and abroad have repeatedly accused the Tunis government for showing little tolerance to dissent. They accuse authorities of stifling the press, harassing rights activists and beating opponents.

The government dismisses such allegations, insisting they are part of a smear campaign by opponents and their allies abroad.

''He (Steiner) has been asked to leave the country after he behaved in violation of the law and in a manner which undermined the public order,'' a government source said.

The source gave no further details but a Tunisian Amnesty activist said police stormed the meeting yesterday, took Steiner out and drove him to the airport where he was put on a flight to Paris.

''Steiner phoned me later at night from Paris. I think the authorities sent him to Paris because it was the first night flight out of Tunis to get rid of him,'' the Amnesty activist said.

Reuters PG VP1823