Tunisia court jails former officials including former PM Larayedh

Ali Larayedh former Tunisian prime minister and leader of the Ennahda Movement Party, speaks during a news conference in Tunis June 19, 2014. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File Photo

TUNIS (Reuters) - A Tunisian court on Friday handed down lengthy prison sentences against former officials, including former Prime Minister Ali Larayedh, a senior figure in the opposition Ennahda party, on charges of facilitating the departure of jihadists to Syria over the past decade.

TAP state news agency quoted a judicial official as saying that the sentences are for 18 to 36 years, and apply to eight people.