Tunisia unveils new cabinet in bid to end protests
TUNIS: Tunisia on Thursday unveiled major changes to its interim government in a bid to put an end to daily protests against figures linked to ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who stayed on in key posts.
Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi, who also served under Ben Ali, said on state television that he would remain but the crucial defence, foreign and interior ministry posts were replaced with new figures.
"This is a temporary government with a clear mission -- to allow a transition to democracy. Its mission is to organise elections in which the people will be completely free to choose," Ghannouchi said in his address.
"The situation is difficult and we must concentrate our efforts for the country to re-start... I hope everyone will get back to work," he said, after a wave of protests that came in the wake of Ben Ali's downfall on January 14.
Hundreds of protesters who have camped out in front of Ghannouchi's offices for five days applauded and shouted with joy when they heard the news, but some of them still called for the resignation of Ghannouchi himself.
Foreign minister Kamel Morjane announced his resignation saying he was leaving "so that the popular revolution can bear fruit." He will be replaced by career diplomat Ahmed Ounais, a former ambassador to Moscow and New Delhi.
The UGTT, which played a key role in anti-Ben Ali protests and has led opposition to the current government, said Thursday it would not be joining the new government line-up but approved of Ghannouchi staying in power.
Ghannouchi has served as prime minister since 1999 and has said he would resign only after the country holds its first democratic elections.
He says the vote could be held within six months but has not given a date.
The government has unveiled unprecedented democratic freedoms for Tunisia but has struggled to restore order in recent days as the 23-year regime of the authoritarian Ben Ali crumbled and trade uni! ons mobi lised against it.
Thousands of protesters have kept up their daily rallies in the streets of Tunisia, calling for old regime politicians to be swept from power and for the abolition of Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) party.
There were protests on Thursday in the capital Tunis as well as in Sidi Bouzid, a poor rural town in central Tunisia where rallies against Ben Ali's regime began last month and escalated into a national movement.
"God is great! We will stay loyal the blood of the martyrs of the revolution!" the Sidi Bouzid protesters chanted -- a reference to the dozens killed in a bloody crackdown by Ben Ali that failed to stem the revolt.
Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the popular Ennahdha (Awakening) Islamist movement, meanwhile prepared to return to Tunisia on Sunday after more than 20 years of forced exile, a spokesman for the movement in Paris told AFP.
The Islamist still officially has a life sentence hanging over him but in practice convicted political exiles have returned freely in recent days.
He founded Ennahdha in 1981 and says it is now a moderate force similar to Turkey's Justice and Development Party (AKP) that will take part in elections.
The ripples of the Arab world's first popular revolt in recent history have been felt across the region, where difficult social and economic conditions have created widespread popular discontent against long-established regimes.
Thousands of Yemenis demonstrated in the capital on Thursday, calling on President Ali Abdullah Saleh to go. He has been in power since 1978.
Protests also raged in Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, for a third day on Thursday in clashes that have left seven people dead.
Tunisia's government has moved quickly to grant unprecedented democratic freedoms, including lifting strict controls on the media, releasing political prisoners and legalising previously banned political parties.
It has also froze! n Ben Al i's assets and issued international arrest warrants for the ex-ruler and six members of his once all-powerful family on charges of illegal transfers of funds abroad and illicit acquisition of assets.
Ben Ali has sought refuge in Saudi Arabia and other family members have scattered across the globe, but 33 of them have been arrested in Tunisia.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said members of Tunisia's former regime were "not welcome" in his country, following reports that Belhassen Trabelsi, Ben Ali's billionaire brother-in-law had sought refuge there.
Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi, who also served under Ben Ali, said on state television that he would remain but the crucial defence, foreign and interior ministry posts were replaced with new figures.
"This is a temporary government with a clear mission -- to allow a transition to democracy. Its mission is to organise elections in which the people will be completely free to choose," Ghannouchi said in his address.
"The situation is difficult and we must concentrate our efforts for the country to re-start... I hope everyone will get back to work," he said, after a wave of protests that came in the wake of Ben Ali's downfall on January 14.
Hundreds of protesters who have camped out in front of Ghannouchi's offices for five days applauded and shouted with joy when they heard the news, but some of them still called for the resignation of Ghannouchi himself.
Foreign minister Kamel Morjane announced his resignation saying he was leaving "so that the popular revolution can bear fruit." He will be replaced by career diplomat Ahmed Ounais, a former ambassador to Moscow and New Delhi.
The UGTT, which played a key role in anti-Ben Ali protests and has led opposition to the current government, said Thursday it would not be joining the new government line-up but approved of Ghannouchi staying in power.
Ghannouchi has served as prime minister since 1999 and has said he would resign only after the country holds its first democratic elections.
He says the vote could be held within six months but has not given a date.
The government has unveiled unprecedented democratic freedoms for Tunisia but has struggled to restore order in recent days as the 23-year regime of the authoritarian Ben Ali crumbled and trade uni! ons mobi lised against it.
Thousands of protesters have kept up their daily rallies in the streets of Tunisia, calling for old regime politicians to be swept from power and for the abolition of Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) party.
There were protests on Thursday in the capital Tunis as well as in Sidi Bouzid, a poor rural town in central Tunisia where rallies against Ben Ali's regime began last month and escalated into a national movement.
"God is great! We will stay loyal the blood of the martyrs of the revolution!" the Sidi Bouzid protesters chanted -- a reference to the dozens killed in a bloody crackdown by Ben Ali that failed to stem the revolt.
Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the popular Ennahdha (Awakening) Islamist movement, meanwhile prepared to return to Tunisia on Sunday after more than 20 years of forced exile, a spokesman for the movement in Paris told AFP.
The Islamist still officially has a life sentence hanging over him but in practice convicted political exiles have returned freely in recent days.
He founded Ennahdha in 1981 and says it is now a moderate force similar to Turkey's Justice and Development Party (AKP) that will take part in elections.
The ripples of the Arab world's first popular revolt in recent history have been felt across the region, where difficult social and economic conditions have created widespread popular discontent against long-established regimes.
Thousands of Yemenis demonstrated in the capital on Thursday, calling on President Ali Abdullah Saleh to go. He has been in power since 1978.
Protests also raged in Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, for a third day on Thursday in clashes that have left seven people dead.
Tunisia's government has moved quickly to grant unprecedented democratic freedoms, including lifting strict controls on the media, releasing political prisoners and legalising previously banned political parties.
It has also froze! n Ben Al i's assets and issued international arrest warrants for the ex-ruler and six members of his once all-powerful family on charges of illegal transfers of funds abroad and illicit acquisition of assets.
Ben Ali has sought refuge in Saudi Arabia and other family members have scattered across the globe, but 33 of them have been arrested in Tunisia.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said members of Tunisia's former regime were "not welcome" in his country, following reports that Belhassen Trabelsi, Ben Ali's billionaire brother-in-law had sought refuge there.
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