Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed
Ghannouchi on Monday announced the formation of a national unity government
after former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted last week.

Tunisia’s Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi speaks during a news conference at his office in Tunis January 17, 2011. Tunisia’s prime minister appointed opposition figures to a new unity government on Monday, trying to establish political stability after violent street protests brought down the president last Friday, and said the government was committed to releasing all political prisoners, and that anyone with great wealth or suspected of corruption would face investigation.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Ghannouchi said the new
government is composed of 21 ministers, including six former ministers, members
of the opposition and independents.

Two leading opposition
figures, the founder of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) Nejib Chebbi and
Mustapha Ben Jaafar, who is from the Democratic Forum for Work and Liberties,
would hold cabinet posts, said the prime minister.

Six former top ministers,
including interior, defense and foreign ministers, retained their posts in the
new government, said Ghannouchi, adding the communication ministry would not
exist and will be replaced by a specialized commission.

Ghannouchi also announced
that the restrictions on the Tunisian League of Human Rights and on the Tunisian
Association of Magistrates would be lifted.

All political parties and
nongovernmental associations will also be recognized and will be able to operate
in all freedom, he added.

Ghannouchi also announced
the establishment of three commissions that are in charge of political reforms,
monitoring unlawful acts and fighting against corruption, adding that all
political prisoners will be freed.

“We will work towards fair
and transparent elections monitored by international observers,” said Ghannouchi,
who also confirmed that the government will allow freedom of speech.

Former president Zine El
Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled the north African country for 23 years, fled to Saudi
Arabia, as the riots developed into a political crisis and raised serious
concern from both the Arab world and the international community.

The turmoil in the
country, known as “peaceful oasis” in north Africa, was triggered by the death
of a university graduate in central Tunisia, who burned himself after the police
confiscated his unlicensed fruit cart.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet