Tunisian Interim Prime Minister Resigns to Quell Protests

Tunisia’s interim Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, resigned on Saturday after protests demanding his resignation left three people dead.
Tunisian Interim Prime Minister Resigns to Quell Protests
2/27/2011
Updated:
2/27/2011
Tunisia’s interim Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, resigned on Saturday after protests demanding his resignation left three people dead.

Ghannouchi said he resigned because he was “not willing to be a person that takes decisions that would end up causing casualties,” according to the Guardian.

Ghannouchi has been a minister Tunisia since 1989 and PM since 1999. Protesters called for his resignation, complaining he is too closely related with the regime of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The slow pace of change was also part of the protesters’ complaints, reported the Guardian.

Ghannouchi stated that his move would be good for the revolution and open the way for a new prime minister.

Former minister Beji Caid-Essebsi was quickly named Ghannouchi’s replacement on Sunday by interim President Fouad Mebazaa.

The Tunisian Press Agency reported that 2,000 people gathered in front of Ghannouchi’s house to ask him to go back. “Tunisia needs you, Ghannouchi,” they chanted.