Former Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali is seriously ill in a Saudi hospital, reports say.

报道称，突尼斯总统扎因·阿比丁·本·阿里病情严重，在沙特一家医院中治疗。

The uprising ended Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's 23-year hold on power in Tunisia
Mr Ben Ali, who was deposed¹ in a popular uprising last month, has suffered a stroke, a family friend told AFP news agency.

The 74-year-old flew to Saudi Arabia with his family after weeks of mass protests over unemployment and poverty.

Tunisia now has an interim²（临时的） government which is preparing the country for national elections.

The family friend, who was not named, said the former president was "in a coma³（昏迷） " in a hospital in Jeddah.

"He had a stroke, and his condition is serious," he said.

Tunisia's Le Quotidien newspaper also reported on Thursday that Mr Ben Ali had suffered a stroke.

Meanwhile, a Saudi source quoted by Reuters news agency said Mr Ben Ali was "in a grave condition".

Earlier, a spokesman for Tunisia's interim government refused to confirm nor deny reports that Mr Ben Ali was in hospital.

The Tunisian uprising ended Mr Ben Ali's 23-year hold on power.

Although he was credited with creating political stability and strong economic growth, critics say he disregarded（忽视） human rights and democratic values - claims he denies.