PROTESTERS FROM Tunisia’s rural south demonstrated in the capital yesterday to demand that figures from the deposed president’s regime be removed from cabinet.
Pressure has been rising on prime minister Mohamed Ghannouchi to step down since a number of opposition politicians resigned from the new unity coalition in protest at the retention of ministers linked to the old regime.
Mr Ghannouchi was prime minister for 10 years during the authoritarian regime of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia earlier this month after weeks of unrest. The prime minister has already stepped down from the RCD party and made concessions to reassure the opposition that a clean break with the Ben Ali years is under way. He went further at the weekend when he announced he would retire after free elections, due to take place in six months.
In an interview on state TV, Mr Ghannouchi said he suffered the same “fear” as the Tunisian people during Ben Ali’s years in power and promised to track down the former president.
He also announced that the state would provide compensation to the families of those who died during the revolution.
The remarks about Ben Ali were greeted sceptically by opponents of the new government, however. They pointed out that Mr Ghannouchi had admitted last week to having telephoned Ben Ali twice in recent days.
On the streets, meanwhile, crowds continued to assemble to demand a purge of RCD figures from cabinet. In central Tunis on Saturday night, a candle-lit vigil in memory of the victims of the revolution was overshadowed by protesters yelling anti-government slogans.
Yesterday, hundreds of protesters who had travelled in a “freedom caravan” from the south of the country converged on the prime minister’s office in Tunis, many promising to defy the curfew and remain there until the government fell. Some of the protesters came from Sidi Bouzid, the southern city in which a young man’s suicide set off the revolution.
“RCD Out,” they yelled – a slogan repeated at now daily protests in the capital.
With the pursuit of members of Ben Ali’s entourage continuing, it was announced yesterday that two figures considered close to the deposed president – spokesman Abdelaziz bin Dhia and the speaker of the upper house Abdallah Qallal – have been placed under house arrest.
As with the arrest of 33 members of Ben Ali’s family earlier this week, however, the government provided few details in either case.
Police have also arrested Larbi Nasra, the owner of a private TV station, on suspicion of “treason” for inciting violence and working for Ben Ali’s return, the state news agency reported.
“The owner of Hannibal TV, who is a relative of the former president’s wife, is using the channel to abort the youth’s revolution, spread confusion, incite strife and broadcast false information,” a statement citing an authorised source said.
Yesterday was the last of three days of national mourning for those who lost their lives during the month of unrest. Violence has eased considerably in Tunis and economic life has largely resumed in the city. A curfew remains in place, but the government said it planned to reopen schools today.