In Tunisia, the army is 'guarantor' of Revolution

.- A Cabinet reshuffle is imminent in Tunisia, said Monday the government spokesman, while thousands of protesters continued to demand the departure of the chiefs of the Ben Ali regime and the military broke its silence, declaring "guarantors of the Revolution ". A senior U.S. envoy, Assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East Jeff Feltman, arrived Monday in Tunis for talks with the transitional government on their plans for democratic reforms and elections, "said State Department spokesman, Philip Crowley.

Ten days after the flight to Saudi Arabia's former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the fall of the repressive regime of 23 years, the situation remains precarious in Tunisia, where thousands of protesters demanding each day a clean government of the chiefs of last government. A government reshuffle is imminent, "maybe by tomorrow", said Monday of the transitional government spokesman and Minister of Education, Taieb Bacush.

"We must not forget that there are jobs that have not been assigned" , said in an interview with reporters, recalling that five ministers resigned last week, three trade unionists, political opponents and former member of the governing party, the Constitutional Union Tunisia. The Tunisian armed forces spoke for the first time on Monday, declaring "guarantors of the revolution" and vowing to uphold the Constitution.

"The national army is the guarantor of the revolution. The army has protected and protecting the people and country," said Chief of Staff of the Tunisian army, Gen. Rashid Amar, in an impromptu speech in the courtyard of the Kasbah, the seat of political power in Tunisia. "We are faithful to the Constitution.

We will not leave this framework," said the general, unknown until he refused to fire on demonstrators "jasmine revolution" as he called for the ousted president, who now enjoys great popularity in Tunisia. Hundreds of people were demonstrating on Monday night in Tunis, despite the curfew, to demand the resignation of the integrated transition.

The protesters also heard the chief of army staff, General Rashid Amar, who had asked for the afternoon to leave the terrace of the Kasbah, the seat of political power in Tunisia, where the prime minister's office. At 20:00 (19:00 GMT), when the curfew began, culminating with the 0500, there were still hundreds of demonstrators in the square, which is preparing to return to spend the night outdoors despite the cold.

The army chief had called the demonstrators, including many young people from the provinces disinherited and rebels in the Midwest, to lift the siege of the prime minister's office, which began Sunday and continued Monday. "Their demands are legitimate, but I wish that this square is unoccupied for government work, the government or another," said Amar, avoiding provide explicit support to the transitional government, but warned the crowd: "The empty ( power) begets terror that breeds dictatorship.

" The protesters, who were hundreds in the morning, increased evening hours to achieve, as a soldier, a figure between "three thousand and five thousand" in the Place de la Kasbah, near the palace where Prime Minister Mohammed works Ghanuchi . The gates of the palace of the seat of government was closely protected by the military.

The entrances to the Kasba were sealed with barbed wire and strands of the army and police. Faced with demonstrations calling for his resignation, the government appeared to have a depletion of the movement and tried to launch the country. But the teachers union called an "unlimited strike" to demand the government resign also.

The slogan was complied on Monday for nearly all teachers Tunisians, according to union leaders in the industry. In turn, the national union of secondary school called a one-day strike for Thursday and participate in demonstrations.

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