Tunisian Prime Minister Ghannouchi resigns, replaced by Beji Caid Essebsi

Tunisian Prime Minister Ghannouchi resigns, replaced by Beji Caid Essebsi

2011-02-28 05:44:49 GMT+7 (ICT)

TUNIS (BNO NEWS) -- Tunisian Interim President Foued Mebazaa on Sunday announced that Beji Caid Essebsi will take over as the country's Prime Minister, hours after Mohamed Ghannouchi resigned from the post.

Ghannouchi provided few details about the reason for his resignation, but said "a conspiracy is being hatched against the Revolution," according to the state-run Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) news agency. He added that over 100 people involved in acts of looting, terrorism and other violence had been arrested in recent days.

Immediately after Ghannouchi's unexpected resignation, Interim President Foued Mebazaa appeared on state television to announce his decision to appoint Beji Caid Essebsi as the country's new Prime Minister. He said he was "surprised" by the resignation but accepted it, TAP reported.

Ghannouchi was liked by some, but disliked by others who claimed he was too close to the regime of former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who resigned in January after a revolution in the North African country.

According to state-run media, more than 2,000 people protested in Tunis following Ghannouchi's resignation. The demonstrators were waving signs reading messages in support of him, such as "Tunisia needs you, Ghannouchi."

The revolution in Tunisia in January led to another revolution in Egypt this month and inspired ongoing anti-government protests in Libya and other countries.

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