Tunisia's new government falters, three ministers resign

The new coalition government of Tunisia faced difficulties on Tuesday with the resignation of three ministers and one opposition party alliance retired even transition to protest the presence of members of the outgoing president's political organization. Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi opposition leaders joined a coalition announced Monday, after President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia after weeks of violent street protests.

But key figures in the "old guard" kept their jobs, which angered many. The Democratic Forum for Labour and Freedom (FDTL), one of three legal opposition parties that formed the new transitional government of Tunisia announced its withdrawal, as before the two ministers made the main union UGTT country.

Tunisian police used tear gas several times on Tuesday to disperse a protest by hundreds of opponents and unions described the new government as a "farce." The demonstrators dispersed but later returned to regroup and continued their protest. Several hundred people also protested against the new government in Monastir, in southern Tunisia.

Abid al-Briki UGTT Tunisian union said the three ministers would withdraw from the national unity government because it included members of the RCD party of Ben Ali. "This is in response to the demands of the people in the streets," said Briki. The ministers of opposition, which won seats in the cabinet are Houssine Dimassi, nominated to the portfolio of Employment and Training, and two ministers of state, and Anouar Ben Abdeljelil Gueddour Bedoui.

Ettajdid The opposition party threatened to withdraw from the coalition if RCD party ministers resign Ben Ali that organization and returned to the State all property obtained through the RCD, state television said. Ettajdid leader Ahmed Ibrahim was appointed Minister of Higher Education in the interim cabinet.

On the streets, protesters insisted that the ministers who served Ben Ali should not be part of the new unity government. "The new government is a farce. Is an insult to the revolution that took lives and blood," said student Ahmed al-Haji. Another protestor, Sami bin Hassan, said: "The problem with the interim government is that it has a number of ministers of the old government." Ghannouchi defended his government, indicating that some ministers were kept because they are needed before holding elections, which would be carried out within the next two months.

"We try to develop a combination that takes into account different forces in the country to establish the conditions to initiate reforms," Ghannouchi said the radio network Europe 1. Ghannouchi rejected suggestions that the "dictatorship" of deposed President Ben Ali Zine al Abedine continue under a new facade.

"That is completely unfair. Today there is a freedom that was being displayed on television, on the street," he said. The weeks of protests against poverty and unemployment in Tunisia that forced the departure of Ben Ali shook the Arab world, whose autocratic leaders lead equally repressive government.

Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia last week after weeks of unprecedented protests against poverty, corruption and political repression in the North African country of 10 million inhabitants.

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