Ben Ali is facing a trial in absentia for his alleged role in the assassination of Hussein . In a statement released by his lawyer last June he said he was a victim of ` ` injustice After serving as ambassador to Poland and ashort-lived appointment as prime minister , he became president in a 1987 bloodless coup , replacing Habib Bourguiba , who was declared medically unfit . '' Ben Ali trained as a lawyer and became head of the defense ministry 's intelligence section . Middle - East and security analyst Mary Claire Spencer believes that Ben Ali became a victim of his own political blindness .
Ben Ali is facing a trial in absentia for his alleged role in the assassination of Hussein . In a statement released by his lawyer last June he said he was a victim of ` ` injustice '' Ben Ali trained as a lawyer and became head of the defense ministry 's intelligence section . Middle - East and security analyst Mary Claire Spencer believes that Ben Ali became a victim of his own political blindness .