Tunisia issued an international arrest warrant for ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his family members, the justice minister said Wednesday.

The former leader and his wife are being sought for "illegal acquisition" of assets and "illicit transfers of funds abroad," Lazhar Karoui Chebbi said, according to state-run TAP news agency.

Ben Ali, who had been in power since 1987, fled to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14 following mass protests against his government over unemployment, price hike and corruption.