Tunisians mark revolution anniversary

“We made this revolution against the dictatorship to impose our right to a dignified life and not to help certain opportunists realize their political ambitions,” said Salem Zitouni, one of the protesters at the gathering in the capital, Tunis, on Saturday.

Protesters also wore red and white clothes, the colors of the national flag, while chanting slogans.

Other protesters carried banners reading “We will never forget our martyrs” and “We are faithful to the blood of the martyrs,” to recognize the people killed during the revolution.

More than 300 people were reportedly killed during the uprising that began in December, 2010 after a Tunisian vendor set himself on fire to protest the regime's repression.

The country's popular uprising ended Ben Ali's 23-year long rule on January 14, 2011, which is the day he and his wife fled to Saudi Arabia.

In June of 2011, a Tunisian court sentenced Ben Ali and his wife to 35 years in prison after finding them guilty of embezzlement and other charges.

Saudi Arabia has, however, refused to hand him over to face justice.

Meanwhile, several leaders of neighboring and Arab countries are expected to take part in the weekend celebrations.

Moreover, the Tunisian revolution sparked the wave of popular uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa known as the Islamic Awakening.