Canada attempting to expel Tunisian Belhassen Trabelsi

After Trabelsi and his family reportedly arrived in Montreal on a private jet last week (following Ben Ali’s ousted), Canada has now revoked Trabelsi's residency permit and has moved to seize the billionaire's Canadian assets.

Furthermore, officials at the Tunisian embassy in Ottawa have also asked Canada to arrest and extradite Trabelsi. Speaking to Canadian media Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said the government would make "every effort" to track down Trabelsi's assets.

"He is not welcome," Cannon said. "We are going to find - in the context, obviously, of current legislation - ways to assure, as quickly as possible, that we might comply with the demand from the Tunisia government."

It is believed Trabelsi and his family fled the Chateau Vaudreuil Suites Hotel in Montreal on Thursday, and their whereabouts remain unknown. It is unclear how long Trabelsi had residency status, which allows non-Canadian citizens to live in the country and can require a lengthy application process.

Ben Ali, who was president for 23 years, was forced from power this month by a series of protests against poverty and corruption. The former president fled with his wife to Saudi Arabia.

Interpol also issued an alert for the arrest of Ben Ali and six family members on request from Tunisia, which has accused them of property theft and illegal transfer of foreign currency, among other charges. The international police agency said member states had been asked to "search, locate and provisionally arrest Ali and his relatives".