There were angry scenes on the streets of several cities on Tuesday Tunisia leaders quit ruling party
There were angry scenes on the streets of several cities on Tuesday Tunisia’s interim president and prime minister have quit the ruling RCD party, amid anger over the make-up of a day-old government, state TV has said.
PM Mohammed Ghannouchi has been criticised for giving major government ministries to RCD figures.
He says all members of the national unity government have “clean hands”.
Four ministers have already stepped down and protests have spread over the inclusion of several veterans of Tunisia’s disgraced former regime.
Interim President Foued Mebazaa was speaker of the country’s parliament until President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali was forced from power on 14 January.
Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi, who unveiled a national unity government just 24 hours ago but has seen renewed street protests throughout Tuesday, is a veteran RCD figure who has been prime minister since 1999.
The resignation announcement was made on Tunisian state TV.
The twin resignations came one day after Mr Ghannouchi, in announcing the new government, pledged to separate the organs of state and political parties, the TAP network said.
“The people are asking for freedoms and this new government is not. They are the ones who oppressed the people for 22 years”
Ines Mawdud StudentIn pictures: New Tunisia protests
The AFP news agency also quoted TAP as saying that the RCD (Constitutional Democratic Rally) had expelled former President Ben Ali from its ranks.
Earlier, three ministers from an opposition party, the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT), stepped down from the new administration.
Officials from the movement said the trio, junior transport minister Anouar Ben Gueddour and two other ministers, Abdeljelil Bedoui and Houssine Dimassi, were resigning in protest at the continued presence of RCD figures in the administration.
Later, Mr Ghannouchi’s choice as health minister, Mustafa ben Jaafar of the Union of Freedom and Labour, refused to take up his position, a senior party official said.
On the streets of Tunis and several other cities angry demonstrators called for those members of the RCD still in power to step aside, and were strongly critical of Mr Ghannouchi.
“I am afraid that our revolution will be stolen from me and my people. The people are asking for freedoms and this new government is not. They are the ones who oppressed the people for 22 years,” Ines Mawdud, a 22-year-old student, told the Associated Press.
TUNISIAN CABINETMohammed Ghannouchi stays on as prime minister. A Ben Ali ally, he has been in the job since 1999, keeping his post throughout the unrestInterior Minister Ahmed Friaa, appointed by Mr Ben Ali to mollify demonstrators, retains postForeign Minister Kamal Morjane retains postNajib Chebbi, founder of opposition Progressive Democratic Party, named as development ministerAhmed Ibrahim, leader of opposition Ettajdid party, named minister of higher educationMustafa ben Jaafar, leader of opposition Union of Freedom and Labour, named health minister but refused to take officeSlim Amamou, prominent blogger who was arrested during protests, becomes secretary of state for youth and sportTunisia: Key players Q&A: Tunisia crisis
Despite the resignations and the street protests, a number of ministers were sworn in on Tuesday in official ceremonies in Tunis.
Opposition figure Najib Chebbi, founder of the opposition Progressive Democratic Party, took up his position as development minister.
Prominent blogger Slim Amamou, who was briefly jailed by President Ben Ali’s police, was also sworn in as minister for youth and sports.
Earlier, Prime Minister Ghannouchi defended the inclusion of members of the old regime in his new government.
He said they had “clean hands” and had always acted “to preserve the international interest”.
He repeated pledges made on Monday of a new “era of freedom”, which would see political parties free to operate and a free press.
Free and fair elections would be held within six months, he said, controlled by an independent election commission and monitored by international observers.
Unrest in Tunisia grew over several weeks, with widespread protests over high unemployment and high food prices pitching demonstrators against Tunisia’s police and military.
President Ben Ali was forced into exile last Friday.
On Monday the government admitted 78 people had died in street clashes.
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