Tunisian army vows to protect revolution

The head of Tunisia’s armed forces Rachid Ammar has pledged to safeguard the country’s historic revolution against any possible deviations.

Ammar made the pledge to a crowd of anti-government protesters in the capital Tunis on Monday.

“The national army is the guarantor of the revolution. The army has protected and protects the people and the country,” Ammar said.

The remarks come as police clashed with protesters camping outside the office of interim Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannoushi the premier’s office, calling on the government to resign.

Protesters demand that the allies of ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali resign from the interim cabinet.

Meanwhile, Tunisian police have put Ben Ali’s former interior minister and his advisor under house arrest. They also raided a TV station, arresting its owner on charges of treason and working for Ben Ali’s return.

This comes as Tunisian schoolchildren returned to classes for the first time since the protests toppled the government ten days ago. Universities will also reopen on Wednesday.

Ben Ali’s 23-year of dictatorship, which was marred by repeated human rights violations and torture, ended earlier this month after weeks of street protests.