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Tunisian Ministers Quit Ruling Party

   VOA News  20 January 2011
   Protesters  shout  slogans  during  a  demonstration  in the center of
   Tunis, 19 Jan 2011

Photo: AP

   Protesters  shout  slogans  during  a  demonstration  in the center of
   Tunis, 19 Jan 2011

   Tunisian  state  television  reports  that  ministers  from  Tunisia's
   interim  government  have resigned from the ruling party of the ousted
   former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
   The  move  comes days after four opposition ministers quit the interim
   Cabinet  in  protest  of  the  ruling  party's  continued influence in
   politics.  On  Monday,  Prime  Minster  Mohamed  Ghannouci announced a
   coalition government that retained the ministers of defense, interior,
   foreign affairs and finance from the previous Cabinet.
   The  new  government  was  expected  to hold its first Cabinet meeting
   Thursday.
   On Wednesday, hundreds of demonstrators rallied in the capital, Tunis,
   calling for the elimination of any ties to the old ruling party.
   In  their  efforts  to  complete  a  "break  with the past," Tunisia's
   interim   leadership  has  freed  the  country's  remaining  political
   prisoners  and  moved  to  track  down  assets stashed overseas by the
   deposed president and his family.
   State television reported that 33 of Mr. Ben Ali's extended family had
   been  arrested while trying to flee the country. Images of seized gold
   and jewelry were shown.

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