The brother-in-law of Tunisia's deposed dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali has claimed refugee status in Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon says.

Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon says Belhassen Trabelsi, the brother-in-law of Tunisia's former dictator, has a legal right to apply for refugee status, but is not welcome in Canada. ((CBC)) In an interview on Saturday with CBC News, Cannon said he had been told that Belhassen Trabelsi had made a formal refugee claim. The process could take several years to complete.

The Canadian government has said Trabelsi is not welcome. But Cannon said Trabelsi has a right to seek refugee status under the law.

To be granted asylum, Trabelsi would have to prove he needs to stay in the country in order to avoid persecution in Tunisia.

Trabelsi had permanent residency status in Canada, which he had obtained in the mid-1990s. Under Canadian law, permanent residency can be lost if it is not used. For example, if a person is not in the country for a certain period of time.

Tunisia's ambassador to Canada, Mouldi Sakri, said he had been instructed to ask that Canada issue an arrest warrant for Trabelsi.

Trabelsi and his family arrived in Montreal last week on a private jet.

Tunisian-Canadians in Montreal have been outraged by Trabelsi's presence because he has been accused of stealing large amounts of money from Tunisia. They want his Canadian assets frozen by the government, and to see his extradition to Tunisia.

Ben Ali is now believed to be in Saudi Arabia and is the subject of an international arrest warrant.