The Tunisian Swimming Federation was seized when anti-Government protesters, including the parents of Olympic and world 1,500m freestyle champion Ousamma Mellouli, stormed the offices and forced staff to leave, according to local media reports.

Posters were hung on the walls decrying the president and general secretary of the federation and the locks were changed. The building is now occupied by the protesters, say the reports.

Ali Salhi, general secretary of the federation told the Tunis Africa Presse agency that "this group broke into our offices on Tuesday and assualted the staff, forcing everyone to leave." About 15 protesters were involved, he claimed, "including Hédi and Khédija Mellouli".

Ali Abbès, president of the federation, expressed deep indignation in a statement to the agency, in which he said that the federation wished to "report this irresponsible and reprehensible behaviour and well wilol take appropriate action to take on these individuals and make the necessary recourse to law". 

He was said to be anxious that archives might be destroyed. His federation was embroiled in controversy last month when it was revealed that it had failed to report a whole meet result to FINA, rendering Mellouli's entry time to the world short-course title race obsolete in the face of protest. The Olympic champion was forced to race for the crown over 1,500m freestyle in the slow heats before evening finals after his entry time was questioned by a federation representing one of his rivals. 

Abbès said that "no law of the jungle" should be tolerated, adding "this is no time for a witch hunt". Any allegations being made by protesters at a time of political turmoil in which the dictatorial ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was forced to flee Tunisia in the face of violent protest, are unclear at this stage. 

A new minister of Youth and Sports and a new Secretary of State are in place in Tunisia and are said to be "listening to all parties which feel victims of injustice".

The seige of the swim federation took place as Tunisia’s new government issued an international arrest warrant for ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and six relatives, accusing him of taking money out of the North African nation illegally. Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia after being driven from power this month by violent protests, was also being charged with illegally acquiring real estate and other assets abroad, Justice Minister Lazhar Karoui Chebbi said. 

Interpol said its Tunis bureau issued a global alert seeking the arrest of Ben Ali and six family members, without specifying who. Chebbi said Ben Ali’s wife, Leila, was among those wanted by Tunisian authorities. She is said to have fled to Dubai, where Melloui raced to glory over 1,500m last month.