Tunisian president toppled after 23 years in power
AFP, Jan 15, 2011, 05.19am
TUNIS: Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country on Friday amid a wave of deadly social protests in a dramatic end to his 23 years in power that is wholly unprecedented for the Arab world.
In a solemn address on state television after a day of riots, Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi announced that he had taken over as interim president.
He invoked an article in the constitution that allowed him to take over temporarily if the president was not able to carry out his duties.
"I call on Tunisians of all political persuasions and from all regions to demonstrate patriotism and unity," Ghannouchi said, promising to bring about social and political reforms in the tightly controlled north African state.
The government earlier promised to hold new elections in six months.
Government sources told AFP that Ben Ali had flown out from the main airport in the capital Tunis but his final destination was not immediately clear.
After earlier reports that Ben Ali may have been headed for France, Tunisia's former colonial overlord, officials there said they did not want him.
US President Barack Obama hailed the "courage" and "dignity" of the Tunisian people and called for free and fair elections in the country.
"I condemn and deplore the use of violence against citizens peacefully voicing their opinion in Tunisia," Obama said in a statement.
"I urge all parties to maintain calm and avoid violence, and call on the Tunisian government to respect human rights, and to hold free and fair elections in the near future," he added.
Ben Ali came to power in a bloodless coup in 1987 at a time of stagnation for Tunisia and he was initially hailed by many people for enacting liberal economic reforms as well as nipping in the bud the Islamist Ennahdha party.
Ghannouchi, a 69-year-old career bureaucrat who has served as prime minister on and off since 1999, has been one of Ben Ali's closest allies.
Analysts said the abrupt change of power was likely to send shockwaves around a region dominated by veteran leaders like the 74-year-old Ben Ali.
Tunisia borders two other authoritarian regimes -- Libya and Algeria.
AFP, Jan 15, 2011, 05.19am
TUNIS: Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country on Friday amid a wave of deadly social protests in a dramatic end to his 23 years in power that is wholly unprecedented for the Arab world.
In a solemn address on state television after a day of riots, Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi announced that he had taken over as interim president.
He invoked an article in the constitution that allowed him to take over temporarily if the president was not able to carry out his duties.
"I call on Tunisians of all political persuasions and from all regions to demonstrate patriotism and unity," Ghannouchi said, promising to bring about social and political reforms in the tightly controlled north African state.
The government earlier promised to hold new elections in six months.
Government sources told AFP that Ben Ali had flown out from the main airport in the capital Tunis but his final destination was not immediately clear.
After earlier reports that Ben Ali may have been headed for France, Tunisia's former colonial overlord, officials there said they did not want him.
US President Barack Obama hailed the "courage" and "dignity" of the Tunisian people and called for free and fair elections in the country.
"I condemn and deplore the use of violence against citizens peacefully voicing their opinion in Tunisia," Obama said in a statement.
"I urge all parties to maintain calm and avoid violence, and call on the Tunisian government to respect human rights, and to hold free and fair elections in the near future," he added.
Ben Ali came to power in a bloodless coup in 1987 at a time of stagnation for Tunisia and he was initially hailed by many people for enacting liberal economic reforms as well as nipping in the bud the Islamist Ennahdha party.
Ghannouchi, a 69-year-old career bureaucrat who has served as prime minister on and off since 1999, has been one of Ben Ali's closest allies.
Analysts said the abrupt change of power was likely to send shockwaves around a region dominated by veteran leaders like the 74-year-old Ben Ali.
Tunisia borders two other authoritarian regimes -- Libya and Algeria.
