TUNIS, Jan. 23 (Saba) -- Tunisian authorities have put two of ousted president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's strongmen under house arrest, the official news agency TAP reported on Sunday.

The TAP identified the two as Abdelaziz bin Dhia, a former state minister and Ben Ali's advisor, and Abdullah Qallal, a former interior minister and head of the Tunisian senate.

The ex-president fled to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14, following weeks of violent protests against corruption, unemployment and soaring prices.

Saba