TUNIS, (Reuters) – Ministers in Tunisia’s interim government have resigned from the ruling party, responding to street protesters’ demands for an end to its influence after the overthrow of President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali.
The move announced on state television today could go some way to restoring credibility in the government after four opposition ministers quit the cabinet this week, saying ruling RCD party ministers must go.
The prime minister and president left the party this week.
Street protesters in Tunis and elsewhere have kept up pressure for a government free of ties with the old guard while a prominent dissident said he would run for president to sweep the former leadership from power.
In further moves to seize the assets of the former ruling family, a bank owned by Ben Ali’s son-in-law has been placed under the control of the central bank, state TV said.
A day earlier, 33 of Ben Ali’s clan were arrested for crimes against the nation. State television showed what it said was seized gold and jewellery. Switzerland froze Ben Ali’s family assets.
Demonstrators, though less numerous than during the days of rage which unseated Ben Ali, continued to insist on the removal of all ministers from his once feared RCD party yesterday.
Only that, they said, could satisfy the hopes of their “Jasmine Revolution”, which has grew out of anger at poverty and unemployment at home and delivered a shock to autocrats across the Arab world.
