Former Tunsisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali passed away at the age of 83 in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Ben Ali's lawyer told Reuters.

In a statement, Tunisian Foreign Ministry confirmed his death.

Ben Ali was the first Arab President ousted in the Arab Spring revolutions. Following the million-man protests broke out on December 17 2010, Ben Ali escaped to Saudi Arabic where he stayed until his death.

Ben Ali will be buried in Saudi Arabia, his lawyer told Sky News.