Everything Must Go as Tunisia auctions off luxury goods of Ben Ali

After the revolution comes the fire sale.

Tunisian Prime Minister Hamdi Jebali cuts the ribbon to open the auction of of some of the possessions of ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

It offers a little something for everyone...at least at the high end of the market.

There is a fleet of luxury cars.

Jewels that would make a make a princess gush.

All a symbol of the kind of imbalances that help foster a revolution

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TAREK DHYAB, TUNISIAN YOUTH AND SPORT MINISTER, SAYING:

"This is only 20-30 per cent of his possessions. I say poor Tunisia, it was controlled by a gang leader - not someone fit to lead a country."

The government hopes the sale will bring in about 10 million euros -- much needed in a country facing double digit unemployment.

Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia in early 2011 in the early days of the Arab Spring. He had run out of time.