Tunisia to legalise banned polical parties

BBC News, 20 January 2011

Troops fired warning shots as protesters marched in central Tunis

Tunisia's new government says it will recognise all banned political groups, including Islamists, and grant an amnesty to all political prisoners.

The announcement comes after the new cabinet held its first meeting - nearly a week after President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted amid mass protests.

The meeting had been postponed amid opposition calls not to give key posts to members of Mr Ben Ali's RCD party.

All eight RCD ministers in the cabinet had earlier quit the party.

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The party had also dissolved its central committee.

On Thursday, troops fired warning shots at crowds who had massed near RCD headquarters in the capital, Tunis.

Reports said some protesters had tried to scale a wall at the building.

Judges also staged a demonstration in Tunis demanding the resignation of all judges who worked for the ousted president.

There were also reports of demonstrations in the towns of Gafsa and Kef.

'No going back'

"We are in complete agreement," Youth Minister Mohamed Aloulou said after Thursday's meeting of the cabinet - described by some of his colleagues as "historic".

"Together we can write a new
page in the history of our country”
Fouad Mebazaa / Tunisian interim leader

"We are not going back. We will recognise all the political movements."

The government said the amnesty would also cover the banned Islamist Ennahda movement.

The announcement comes a day after two a cabinet minister and a former member both said that that the government had already freed all political prisoners.

Political wrangling had delayed the inaugural meeting of the cabinet. Hours before it was due to start, a minister who had belonged to the RCD announced he was pulling out of the government.

"I am stepping down for the higher interests of the country in this delicate situation to try to bring the country out of crisis and ensure a democratic transition," the official Tap news agency quoted Zouheir M'Dhaffar, minister of state in the prime minister's office, as saying.

Four opposition ministers quit the cabinet the day after it was formed, demanding the exclusion of RCD ministers.

Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi and interim President Fouad Mebazaa - former speaker of the lower house of parliament - have also quit the RCD to try to distance themselves from Mr Ben Ali.

The interim government must arrange a date for
future elections

Mr Ben Ali and his family fled to Saudi Arabia last week after mass street protests over unemployment, poverty and corruption.

Despite his departure, protests have continued, with demonstrators and opposition leaders demanding that all members of the RCD party be excluded from any future administration.

Although the situation across Tunisia remains tense, authorities have shortened the hours of curfew.

A state of emergency is still in place and the army is still deployed in the capital Tunis. Schools and universities remain closed.

The interim government has pledged free and fair elections within six months but has given no dates.

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