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Tunisia: Four ministers pull out of union govt

  1. Posted on Tuesday 18 January 2011 - 22:57
    KingsleyKobo
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    Four days after Tunisia’s ex-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country, the new unity government formed only Monday saw the resignation of four ministers on Tuesday following wide criticisms of the presence of a big bunch from the former administration in the new regime that was supposed to break the continuation of Ben Ali’s “dictatorship.”

    The three ministers, who are member of an main labour union UGTT, said they were asked to pull out by members of their union due to renewed streets protests Tuesday calling on the dissolution of the unity government.

    Houssine Dimassi (employment minister), Abdeljelil Bédoui (minister under the Premier Minister) and Anouar Ben Gueddour (Transport minister) were announced to have submitted letters of resignation by state media.

    In a bid to reassure those who are fed up with the former regime, interim President Fouad Mebazza and Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi said they were quitting Ben Ali’s Democratic Constitutional Rally party.

    A statement from the DCR said the former president had been expelled from the party.

    Later Tuesday, the Associated Press said Tunisia's health minister, who is from another opposition party, also resigned.

    The capital Tunis remained occupied by tanks and heavily armed riot police on Tuesday, while many stores and businesses were closed. A ban on public assemblies is in place, as well as a strict night time curfew.

    Tunisia's Interior Ministry said Monday that 78 people have died in the month-long violence. The government previously put the death toll at 23.

    Ghannouchi said Tunisia will work towards free and fair elections under the supervision of international observers. The polls were to hold within 60 days according to the constitution, but the government says it will be able to organise the vote in six months.


    Tunisia: Four ministers pull out of union govt

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