Tunisian cabinet shuffled, ousting Ben Ali allies - Summary

Thu, 27 Jan 2011

Tunis - Members of the political old guard in Tunisia left the interim cabinet on Thursday after days of protests calling for allies of ousted leader Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali to step down.

Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi announced the cabinet reshuffle late Thursday with changes in key posts such as defense, interior, foreign and finance ministers. Ghannouchi will keep his job as the head of the interim government.

Tunisia's Foreign Minister Kamel Morjane had resigned from the country's transitional government just hours earlier, becoming the second minister from the camp of Ben Ali to step aside.

Tunisia's official TAP news agency quoted Morjane, 62, as saying he was resigning in the interest of the country.

"Taking into account the interest of Tunisia, and in order to support the work of the national unity government ... I have decided to quit my mission as minister of foreign affairs," he said.

Morjane was one of several ministers from Ben Ali's government, who was reappointed to his post in the country's nine-day old unity administration. Their inclusion in the government meant to oversee Tunisia's transition to democracy had sparked widespread protests.

The change came in response to demonstrations in Tunis and a strike in Sidi Bouzid.

The government had said a day earlier that it is seeking the arrest of Ben Ali, his wife, Leila, and other relatives on charges of property theft and the illegal transfer of foreign currency.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/364646,ali-allies-summary.html.