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Having returned home after more than 20 years of exile, Tunisia's Islamic opposition leader Rashed Ghannoushi calls on the government to free political prisoners. “There are political prisoners still in prison who need to be released. There are consultations between the different political forces away from the government which need to take place within the government and with a view to having all these different political forces represented in government”, Ghannoushi the media in an exclusive interview on Saturday. On Sunday, Ghannouchi left London's Gatwick airport at 08:30 GMT to the Tunisian capital, Tunis, following the departure of the ousted Tunisian Zionist Ruler Zine El Abidin Ben Ali who had earlier fled from Tunisia with his family taking along 1.5 tons of Gold Bars.

Tunisia's Islamic opposition leader Rashed Ghannoushi

Thousands of Tunisians flocked to Tunis airport to give Ghannoushi a hero's welcome. The head of the En-Nahdha Movement was exiled to Britain in 1989 by former Zionist President Zine al-Abdine Ben Ali. His return comes after Tunisia's interim government issued an amnesty for all the country's banned political activists. The amnesty is yet to be approved by the parliament. Tunisia's new government installed after the ousted Tunisian Zionist Ruler Zine El Abidin Ben Ali's fall has unveiled unprecedented democratic freedoms, including lifting media restrictions, releasing political prisoners and registering banned parties. “There is corruption which needs to be addressed. Of course, with regards to the issue of development, real steps need to be taken to launch development projects in the marginalized areas of Tunisia”, he said. Ghannoushi also said that he does not seek to play a role in the new government. “We have not sought to play any role in this government. We have not been consulted about the government or its members or its committees. There are worrying indicators that the security services are still very much active”, he said. Tens of thousands of protesters have kept up their daily rallies in the streets of the Tunisian capital, Tunis, calling for old regime politicians to be swept from power and for the abolition of Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally party.

Monday, 24 January 2011

Tunisian army will protect revolution

The head of Tunisia's armed forces Rashid Ammar has pledged to safeguard the country's historic revolution against any possible deviations. Ammar made the pledge to a crowd of anti-government protesters in the capital Tunis on Monday. "The national army is the guarantor of the revolution. The army has protected and protects the people and the country", Ammar said. The remarks come as police clashed with protesters camping outside the office of interim Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannoushi the premier's office, calling on the government to resign. Protesters demand that the allies of ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali resign from the interim cabinet.

Protesters demonstrate outside Prime Minister Mohammed
Ghannouchi's office in Tunis on January 24, 2011.

Meanwhile, Tunisian police have put Ben Ali's former interior minister and his advisor under house arrest. They also raided a TV station, arresting its owner on charges of treason and working for Ben Ali's return. This comes as Tunisian schoolchildren returned to classes for the first time since the protests toppled the government ten days ago. Universities will also reopen on Wednesday. Zionist Ben Ali's 23-year of dictatorship, which was marred by repeated human rights violations and torture, ended earlier this month after weeks of violent street protests.

Sunday, 23 January 2011

Tunisians demanding interim PM to quit - New wave of violent protests erupts

As unrest spreads across volatile Tunisia, protestors are mounting pressure on the country's hypocrite Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and his cabinet to quit. Thousands held demonstrations in Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia, as well as other cities and protested against the presence of Ghannouchi and other allies to ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in the new government. Country's main trade union also called for a new administration and organized a protest march dubbed the Caravan of Liberation which set off from central Tunisia for the capital on Saturday. Tunisia's interim prime minister, however, has pledged to leave office after elections, which is expected to be held in the next six months, but he has given no indication of when the vote will be held.

Policemen take part in a demonstration on the streets of Tunis, on January 22, 2011

"We want to make the next elections the first transparent and legitimate elections since independence", Ghannouchi addressed the nation on Friday on state-run Tunis TV. "After this transitional period -- with all honesty -- I will leave any political role I have even if I was selected or appointed. I will leave political life and retire", he said. Police officers who previously defended the Ben Ali regime have also joined the protests. The ongoing unrest in Tunisia, which led to the ouster of president Ben Ali, seems to be spreading to other North african countries. On Tuesday an Egyptian man lost his life after he set himself on fire on the roof of his house in protest at the dire living conditions and joblessness in the country.

Two other Egyptian men that were inspired by events in Tunisia attempted to set themselves on fire in downtown Cairo too. Earlier on Saturday, hundreds of Egyptians gathered outside the Tunisian Embassy in Cairo to show their solidarity with Tunisians and called for protests similar to those in Tunisia. Self-immolation attempts have spread across North African countries after an attempt by an unemployed Tunisian man to set himself on fire sparked an uprising that ended the 23-year rule of Ben Ali.

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Fresh violent protests erupt in Tunisia

Shots have been fired as Tunisian protesters reach the ex-ruling party headquarters after ministers taking part in the new unity government quit the party of ousted Zionist President Ben Ali. Troops fired warning shots at 1,000 protesters to stop them from climbing a wall at the headquarters of Tunisia's former ruling party. Anti-government protesters took to the streets of the Tunisian capital to demand the resignation of the ousted president's allies.

Tunisian police forces stand guard on January 19, 2011 during a protest in the center of Tunis.

The news comes after the Tunisian cabinet ministers quit Ben Ali's party RCD. Opposition ministers had already left the interim government in protest against the presence of Ben Ali's allies in the cabinet line-up. Meanwhile, Tunisia's state television says 33 members of Ben Ali's family have been arrested while trying to flee the north African country. Ben Ali, himself, fled to Saudi Arabia earlier this month following a nationwide uprising and later on his wife escaped Tunisia along with 1.5 tons of gold bars. Scores of people have been killed in clashes with the security forces over the past few weeks.

Wednesday, 19 January 2011

Anti-govt. protests intensify in Tunis

Thousands of Tunisian demonstrators have taken to the streets of the capital city of Tunis, protesting the continued presence of the ousted president's party on the political scene. Protesters marched down the main street of Tunisia's capital on Wednesday, calling for the expulsion of the ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's allies from the transitional government. The demonstrators sang nationalist songs and held up signs, which read, "RCD Out!'', referring to the former ruling party. The fresh protests come as the new unity cabinet is scheduled to meet on Thursday. The meeting will be the first gathering of the cabinet since the removal of Zionist Ben Ali from office on January 14.

In recent days, thousands have protested across Tunisia to call for oustedPresident Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) party to be shut out of the government

Amid widespread public dissatisfaction with the new cabinet line-up, four of Ben Ali's opponents have already quit the new government in protest against the continued domination of his party. Three of the four ministers were from Tunisia's main trade union. Their decision came after the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) refused to recognize the country's new leadership. Opposition ministers want to see all members of the former government dismissed. In recent days, hundreds of thousands have protested across Tunisia to call for Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) party to be shut out of the government as the country's security forces tried to disperse the protest. Police and security forces used water cannon and fired shots into the air to disperse the demonstrators.

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

Tunisia ministers quit new (old) govt

Four ministers have resigned from the new Tunisian government amid widespread public dissatisfaction with the new cabinet line-up. Three of the four ministers were from Tunisia's main trade union whose decision came after the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) refused to recognize the country's new leadership. "We are resigning from the government after a call from our union", said Houssine Dimassi, who had been named minister for training and employment in a transitional unity government. The unity government was formed on Monday, three days after President Zine El Abidin Ben Ali was ousted from power in a historic revolution. Ben Ali's 23-year rule ended after weeks of street protests. His era was marred by repeated human rights violations, massive looting and torture.

Police having clashes with demonstrators in Tunis on January 18, 2011

Meanwhile, fresh violent protests have erupted in the capital against the new coalition government. Riot police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. The protesters demand that Ben Ali's party give up power. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has defended his new cabinet lineup. Ghannouchi, as well as foreign, interior and defense ministers are to retain their posts. Only three opposition figures will join them. The union says the withdrawal is justified by the presence of 12 cabinet members belonging to ousted President Zine el-Abidine ben Ali's ruling party, stressing that the unity government is "a masquerade" still dominated by Ben Ali's supporters. The opposition Islamic party, an-Nahza, has also boycotted the presidential election due in six months.