Tunisian president sacks cabinet

As anti-government protests gain momentum across Tunisia, the country’s out-of-favor president, Zine El Abidin Ben Ali, fires all his cabinet members.

In an official statement, President Ben Ali said he had dismissed the government and would hold elections in six months’ time. Now Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has been tasked with forming a new government.

The decision comes after a rally by thousands of anti-government protesters turned violent with police using tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The police acted when a group of people tried to join protestors who had gathered outside the interior ministry in the capital Tunis.

National state of emergency

The Tunisian government said Friday it had declared a national state of emergency, banning public gatherings and authorizing security forces to fire on anyone refusing to obey orders. The government has also imposed a dusk-till-dawn curfew.

Tunisians are furious about the police killing 13 more people last night — especially after the president promised to end the use of live rounds on protesters — and want Ben Ali’s resignation.

On Tuesday, President Ben Ali promised to end the use of live rounds on protesters.

Army shuts down airspace

An airport source said on Friday that the army took control of Tunis Carthage Airport, Tunisia’s main international airport on Friday and that the country’s airspace was shut down.

“I can confirm that the army is at the Airport. Armored vehicles are surrounding the airport… The airspace is closed too,” the source was quoted by AFP.

Rights groups say scores of people have been killed in clashes with police since the start of the unrest last month.

Meanwhile, Tunisia’s ambassador to the UN has resigned to protest President Ben Ali’s handling of the crisis in the country.

Foreign Minister Kamel Morjane had earlier said the president was preparing for the parliamentary elections before the 2014 presidential vote.

Protesters oppose the country’s political system and call for broad reforms and changes in the governing body.

Experts say Ben Ali’s era has been marred by repeated human rights violations and torture.

Ben Ali has ruled Tunisia for more than two decades.