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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Anti-govt. protests intensify in Tunis


Thousands of Tunisian demonstrators have taken to the streets of the capital city of Tunis, protesting the continued presence of the ousted president's party on the political scene. Protesters marched down the main street of Tunisia's capital on Wednesday, calling for the expulsion of the ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's allies from the transitional government. The demonstrators sang nationalist songs and held up signs, which read, "RCD Out!'', referring to the former ruling party. The fresh protests come as the new unity cabinet is scheduled to meet on Thursday. The meeting will be the first gathering of the cabinet since the removal of Zionist Ben Ali from office on January 14.

In recent days, thousands have protested across Tunisia to call for oustedPresident Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) party to be shut out of the government

Amid widespread public dissatisfaction with the new cabinet line-up, four of Ben Ali's opponents have already quit the new government in protest against the continued domination of his party. Three of the four ministers were from Tunisia's main trade union. Their decision came after the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) refused to recognize the country's new leadership. Opposition ministers want to see all members of the former government dismissed. In recent days, hundreds of thousands have protested across Tunisia to call for Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) party to be shut out of the government as the country's security forces tried to disperse the protest. Police and security forces used water cannon and fired shots into the air to disperse the demonstrators.


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