U.S. concerned by Tunisia sentences

WASHINGTON, May 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department Thursday said it was concerned by the conviction in Tunisia of two lawyers who had criticized the country's government.

On April 29, a Tunisian court sentenced lawyer Mohamed Abbou to 19 months in prison for publicly criticizing the government of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali for his overtures to Israel. Five days later, it sentenced lawyer Faouzi Ben Merad to four months in prison for contempt of court. Merad had accused the government of using the courts to punish opponents.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Washington was following the issue closely and was "very concerned" with the sentences.

"We have expressed our concerns to the government of Tunisia, both in Washington and in Tunis, reiterating that respect for the right to free and peaceful expression, association, assembly, is an essential element of democracy," he said.

During a visit to Washington in 2004, Ben Ali was urged by President Bush to undertake political reform and respect human rights.