Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Tunisian President Dismisses Government Amid Protests VOA News 14 January 2011 Protesters in Tunis chant slogans against President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, 14 Jan 2011 Photo: AP Protesters in Tunis chant slogans against President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, 14 Jan 2011 Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has dismissed his government and called for early elections in the wake of the country's worst rioting in decades. [VOA's Lisa Bryant reports from Tunisia:] Tunisia's officialTAP news agency reported the president's plans Friday, saying Mr. Ben Ali wanted new elections to be held within six months. Fresh clashes between police and demonstrators erupted Friday in the capital, Tunis, where some protesters called for President Ben Ali's resignation.  Demonstrators are unhappy with the country's high unemployment and food prices. Police have fired tear gas at protesters, and a reporter for VOA saw officers beating some of them. Witnesses said shots were heard Friday near the interior ministry in the capital.  Hospital officials said the 13 were killed late Thursday, the same day that President Ben Ali announced concessions to try to stop deadly riots.  There was no official confirmation of the newly-reported deaths - which would be in addition to the 23 people the government reported killed. On Thursday, Mr. Ben Ali ordered security forces to stop using firearms against demonstrators. In a televised speech, he also made sweeping pledges for political and media reform and slashed prices on food staples.  However, the new measures have not eased protests. The protests erupted in the western Sidi Bouzid region in December, when a 26-year-old university graduate set himself on fire after police confiscated his produce. Authorities said he was selling it without a permit. Also Friday, Tunisia's ambassador to UNESCO resigned. Ambassador Mezri Haddad cited the unrest but did not elaborate. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .