Russian tourists stranded in Tunisia to return home

Moscow, Jan 18 (Itar-Tass) Seventy-eight Russian touristsstranded in riot-stricken Tunisia will return home today byNouvelair air company''s flight.

They will reach Moscow''s Domodedovo airport at 23:30(local time).

"A regular Nouvelair flight BJ 400 will leave the Tunisiancapital at 17:00 local time (19:00 Moscow time) and will landat Domodedovo airport at 23:30 Moscow time," Oleg Moseyev, thepress service chief of the Russian Committee for Tourism, toldItar-Tass.

The first flight organised by Transaero delivered 240Russian tourists, including five children, from Tunisia toMoscow last night.

Foreign tourists are leaving Tunisia because of riots andmass disturbances that have swept the country. The Tunisianauthorities have declared a state of emergency in the capitaland other cities after strong anti-government protests.

Seventy-eight people died and another 98 were wounded ina rebellion that had brought down President Zine El AbidineBen Ali and a wave of violence that followed his ousting.

The Express-tour tourist company has announced that it''sready to sell tickets to today''s flight not only to touristswho are remaining in Tunisia but also to those who live andwork in the country if they wish to leave. (Itar-Tass)