Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Tunisia's Interim President, PM Quit Ruling Party

   VOA News  18 January 2011
   New  Tunisian  President  Fouad  Mebazaa,  right,  and  Prime Minister
   Mohamed Ghannouchi (center) in Tunis (file photo)

Photo: AP

   New  Tunisian  President  Fouad  Mebazaa,  right,  and  Prime Minister
   Mohamed Ghannouchi (center) in Tunis (file photo)

   State  media  reports from Tunisia say the country's interim president
   and  prime  minister  have  resigned  from  the ruling party of ousted
   President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
   The  reports  say  President  Fouad Mebazza and Prime Minister Mohamed
   Ghannouchi  quit  the  Democratic  Constitutional Rally party but will
   retain their posts in running the country.
   The  resignations  may  be  an  effort  to  end  days  of  protests by
   demonstrators  who  have  called for a complete eradication of the old
   ruling party.
   Earlier  Tuesday, fresh protests broke out in the capital, Tunis, with
   some  demonstrators  voicing  opposition  to  the  selection  of a new
   government that included many members of Mr. Ben Ali's ruling party.
   Also  Tuesday,  at least three ministers announced they were resigning