Tunisian dinar
The dinar (, , ISO 4217 currency code: "TND") is the currency of Tunisia. It is subdivided into 1000 milim or millimes (). The abbreviation "DT" is often used in Tunisia, although writing "dinar" after the amount is also acceptable (TND is less colloquial, and tends to be used more in financial circles); the abbreviation "TD" is also mentioned in a few places, but is less frequently used, given the common use of the French language in Tunisia, and the French derivation of "DT" (i.e., "").
History of modern Tunisia
In the 1980s the economy performed poorly. In 1983 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forced the government to raise the price of bread and semolina, causing severe hardship and protest riots. In this situation, the Islamic Tendency Movement (MTI) under Rashid al-Ghannushi provided popular leadership. Civil disturbances, including those by the Islamists, were repressed by government security forces under General Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The government persisted in following its program; Ben Ali was named prime minister.