Tunisia close to deal on new government, PM announces | WPN World People News

Tunisia was a nation struggling to restore order Sunday after the dramatic uprising that forced Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from the country after 27 years in power.

Government troops clashed throughout the night with the remains of Ben Ali’s personal guard, managing to secure the presidential palace in the seaside town of Carthage after a gunfight.

"It is a battle zone," Mohamad Guiga, a nearby resident, told CNN.

The running battles were prompted late on Sunday when the new interim government arrested the former head of Ben Ali’s security force in a raid on a building holding around 1,000 members of the group.

Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, who is the interim head of government, appeared on national television, Tunis TV, to tell the country that a deal to form a new government was nearing completion and that members of all major opposition parties would hold positions in the cabinet.

The members of Ben Ali’s security force, now cast as rebels by the government, have found themselves isolated from public support, with many residents of Carthage reportedly volunteering to help government troops in their raids.

Source: The Africa News.Net