Allies of deposed president removed from Tunisia's government

Allies of Tunisia’s deposed president were removed from key posts in the interim government last night, but prime minister Mohamed Ghannouchi said he would stay on to prepare for free elections in six months, The Irish Times reports.

In a reshuffle aimed at mollifying protesters who have objected to the retention of senior ministers from Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali’s authoritarian regime, 12 ministers have been replaced.

Among them are all members of Mr Ben Ali’s RCD party, including the interior and defense ministers.

“This government is a transitional, interim government that will remain until it completes its mission of taking the country to democracy,” Mr Ghannouchi said in a live television address.

He said the new cabinet had been agreed after consultations with all political parties and civil society groups and the ministers had been chosen for their high levels of experience and qualifications.

Protesters have held daily demonstrations in cities across Tunisia for the past 10 days to demand the removal of the old guard from Tunisia’s unity coalition. Four opposition figures resigned from the cabinet within 24 hours of their appointment last week when it emerged that the RCD had held onto key portfolios such as interior, defense and foreign affairs.