Tunisia Interim Prime Minister, President Quit Amid Protests

by Jordan Yerman | January 18, 2011 at 10:32 am

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Tunisia Update: Interim President & Prime Minister Quit RCD Party

After one day of interim government, Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi and President Foued Mebazaa have quit the RCD (Constitutional Democratic Rally) party as street protests renew.

Tunisia: State of Emergency

Ministers Anouar Ben Gueddour, Abdeljelil Bedoui and Houssine Dimassi had earlier resigned in protest over the continued presence of RCD leaders in the interim government. Meanwhile, Mustafa ben Jaafar, appointed by Ghannouchi as Minister of Health, refused to take the position.

Repeated Pledges, Continued Protest

While Ghannouchi renewed promises of freedom and openness in the new government, popular unrest continues, with protestors seeking to purge RCD from power.

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".