Monday, February 28, 2011
By Tarek Amara
Reuters

TUNIS: Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghannouchi resigned Sunday after violent protests over his ties to the North African state’s toppled leader, triggering street celebrations in central Tunis.
Five people have been killed since Friday in clashes between security forces and protesters at demonstrations against Ghannouchi, according to the government.

Gannouchi was replaced by Beji Caid Sebsi, a former foreign minister under independence President Habib Bourguiba, interim President Fouad Mebazza announced.

“My resignation will provide a better atmosphere for the new era,” Ghannouchi said.
“I am not ready to be the person who takes decisions that would end up causing casualties,” he added.
“My resignation is in the service of the country,” Ghannouchi said during a speech on state television. “I am not a man of repression.”

Critics have accused Ghannouchi of being too close to former ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, toppled after a series of protests that sent shockwaves across the rest of North Africa and the Arab world and encouraged a similar uprising in Egypt.

Police fired shots in the air and used tear gas to disperse hundreds of youths breaking shop windows in a commercial district of Tunis shortly after the announcement, while thousands gathered near Parliament to celebrate.

“We’re very happy, but it is not enough,” said one protester who identified himself as Ahmad. “We want to see nothing more of this government.”

Ghannouchi restated the government’s pledge to hold elections to replace Ben Ali by July 15.
Analysts said the move could add legitimacy to an election to replace Ben Ali, ousted on Jan. 14, but could also encourage further opposition demands.

“The hope is that, with this concession, street protests will calm down and this will allow the government to get to the task of preparing elections,” said Kamran Bokhari of political risk consultancy Stratfor.

“But the risk is that it will embolden the opposition forces to demand more concessions.”
A Reuters witness said Tunisian soldiers had barricaded a commercial district of Tunis where youths were breaking windows and throwing stones. They fired tear gas and rounds in the air to disperse them. There was no sign of any wounded.

An official at Tunisia’s powerful umbrella union UGTT said Ghannouchi’s resignation was “a step in the right direction.”