Tunisia: Two ministers quit interim government

TUNIS. March 1. KAZINFORM Two ministers have resigned from Tunisia's interim government, a day after Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannounchi said he was standing down; Kazinform refers to BBC News.

Mohamed Afif Chelbi and Mohamed Nouri Jouini were both in the cabinet of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted last month.

The departure of Mr Ghannouchi had failed to appease protesters, who rallied in Tunis again.

They demanded that the cabinet be free from Mr Ben Ali's allies.

Mr Chelbi, who had served as industry and technology minister, and Mr Jouini, who had overseen planning and international co-operation, presented their resignations on Monday.

They were the only ministers remaining from Mr Ben Ali's rule.

Meanwhile, the Tunis stock exchange said it was suspending all operations "in view of the current situation and with the aim of protecting savings invested in equities."

And in a separate development, military reinforcements were deployed close to the interior ministry in Tunis after violence over the weekend.