US official denies intervention in Tunisian sovereignty

US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman (L) and PM of Tunisia Ali Laarayedh in Tunis US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman denied America’s intervention in Tunisian sovereign affairs during a meeting with Tunisian Interior Minister Ali Al-Areed in Tunis on Thursday. Sherman asserted that the US respects its relationship with Tunisia and has confidence in its judiciary. The official highlighted the volume of aid the US gave to Tunisia following the revolution, which exceeds 350 million dollars.
Sherman’s visit comes as part of a tour of North Africa with a delegation to monitor the developments in each country during their transitional periods.
She said that the US wants Tunisia to make decisions on their own without interference, praising the president’s serious desire to improve the country’s standard of living and keenness to reduce unemployment and thwart terrorism.  
Discussing the US’ criticism of Tunisia’s sentencing of the 20 charged with attacking the American Embassy on May 28, Sherman asserted that America had no doubts of the objectivity of the judiciary. She defended the comments, which condemned the sentences as lenient, under freedom of expression. Sherman asserted that the final judgement lies solely with the Tunisian judiciary.
Following the US’ comments, the Tunisian Minister of Justice Nazar ben Ammou quickly declared that the Public Prosecutor\'s Office had to appeal the judgment.
Ben Ammou denied that the decision to appeal come after American pressures.