The month-long protests have reached the centre of the capital, Tunis Tunisia’s president has said he will not seek a new term in office in 2014, following widespread protests which have left at least 23 people dead.
Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali also said he was also ordering police to stop using live fire against protesters.
Mr Ben Ali, who has ruled the country since 1987, was speaking hours after police fired live shots at protesters in the capital, killing one man.
Human rights groups say more than 60 people have died in weeks of unrest.
Speaking in his third nationally-televised address since the violence began, Mr Ben Ali, 74, said there was “no presidency for life” in Tunisia.
He said he would not attempt to remove the upper age limit for presidential candidates from the constitution.
The president said he felt “very, very deep and massive regret” over the deaths, and that he had ordered his interior minister to ensure that troops stopped firing on protesters unless they were under threat.
“I won’t accept that another drop of blood of a Tunisian be spilled,” he said.
After the speech was broadcast, there were reports of cheering crowds gathering in the capital, and cars honking their horns.
Tunisia’s main opposition leader, Najib Chebbi, welcomed the announcement, but said he was waiting to see “concrete details” of the plans.
The BBC’s Adam Mynott in Tunisia says Mr Ben Ali, who earlier this week blamed the unrest on “terrorists”, has a very sceptical nation to convince.
The fact that violent protests have erupted in towns all over the country shows how widespread the feeling of resentment towards the government is, says our correspondent, and it remains to be seen what response his comments will have.
The president also addressed other key concerns of the protesters, pledging to reduce restrictions on internet access and take action on food prices, which have gone up fourfold in recent weeks.
Mr Ben Ali said there was no “presidency for life” in Tunisia The protests began in mid-December, after an unemployed graduate set himself on fire when police tried to prevent him from selling vegetables without a permit. He died a few weeks later.
The demonstrations were initially about high unemployment and rising food prices, but have escalated to include general anger towards the president over what is perceived to be a corrupt ruling elite.
Earlier this week, Mr Ben Ali dismissed his interior minister in an apparent attempt to stem the unrest.
The government has previously blamed religious groups and opposition parties for stoking the violence.
Mr Ben Ali is only Tunisia’s second president since the country gained independence from France in 1956.
He came to power in 1987 and was last re-elected to a five-year term in 2009 with 89.62% of the vote.
Tunisia is a popular tourist destinations but several countries, including the US and the UK, have advised their citizens against travel to the country while the unrest continues.
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