Tunisia’s former President Ben Ali may face 18 different charges

Justice Minister Lazhar Karoui Chebbi said the charges were among 44 to be made against Ben Ali, his family and some former ministers.

An international warrant for Ben Ali's arrest is in force. He was ousted in January amid a popular uprising and fled to Saudi Arabia.

Authorities said at the time they had arrested 33 members of his family, reportedly on suspicion of plundering the country's resources.

Chebbi said authorities had issued a request to Interpol to freeze the assets of Ben Ali and his family, and said a delegation was being sent to Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France, to try to speed up the enforcement of the request.

Ben Ali is accused of ordering security forces to crack down on the revolt that began in mid-December.

The UN calculates 219 people died during the Tunisian uprising, including 72 in the country's jails, a far higher toll than that provided by Tunisian authorities.

Caretaker authorities have appointed a new government and the notorious and extensive secret police service has been dissolved.