Tunis: Hundreds of Tunisians welcomed a blogger returning to the country from Canada on Sunday after the fall of the leader he was famous for lampooning on the Internet.
Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled Tunisia this month after weeks of protests against poverty, corruption and political repression.
"I feel proud to return to Tunisia after the dictator left. The Internet played a big role and was the basic motor in getting rid of the tyrant," Tarek Mekki told Reuters at the airport where he was received by around 500 fans.
"It's amazing that we participated via the Internet in ousting him, via uploading videos. What we did on the Internet had credibility and that's why is was successful."
Mekki become known for posting himself on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter offering commentaries on Ben Ali's speeches that ridiculed the leader of 23 years.
Another blogger, Slim Amamou, was appointed junior minister for communications technology in an interim government appointed last week after Ben Ali's ouster.
Restrictions on the Internet inside the country of 10 million, with around 4 million Internet users, were immediately lifted once Ben Ali left. He is now in Saudi Arabia.
Mekki's fans said he should run for president in future elections.
"This is the candidate of young people in the coming elections. He reflects our problems and says what we want to say," said Ahmed Noureddine, 25.
Another man was holding up a picture of Mekki. "We only knew him through Facebook but now we see him in person. We welcome him and call on him to run in elections," he said.
Mekki told the gathering the "Jasmine Revolution" was not over. "What the government is doing is not enough, it's a new way of seizing control of government," he said, addressing the crowd.
For days, protesters have gathered in Tunis in protest against the transitional government headed by Mohamed Ghanouchi, saying it contains remnants of the fallen president's old guard who must step aside.
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