France, April 19 -- ATunisian court handed jail terms ranging from 13 to 66 years to 40 opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers on charges of conspiring against state security, Tunisia's state news agency TAP reported on Saturday.

Businessman Kamel Ltaif was sentenced to 66 years and opposition politician Khyam Turki received a 48-year term, defence lawyer Abdessatar Massoudi, told Reuters news agency.

The court also jailed prominent opposition figures including Ghazi Chaouachi, Issam Chebbi, Jawahar Ben Mbrak and Ridha Belhaj to 18 years in prison. They have been in custody since being detained in 2023.

"We are not surprised by these unjust and vengeful verdicts that seek to silence the voices of these opposition figures," Chaouac...