Protesters are pushed back by a line of riot police during a demonstration in downtown Tunis, Wednesday. (Reuters) TUNIS: Tunisia's new government began releasing 1,800 prisoners Wednesday and moved to track down assets stashed overseas by its deposed president and his family. Tensions on the streets appeared to be calming as the administration tried to show it was distancing itself from the old guard. Hundreds of protesters led a rally in central Tunis demanding that former allies of deposed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali stop clinging to power. Later, about 30 youths in the capital broke a curfew and set up camp near the heavily guarded Interior Ministry, bringing mats, food and water for an overnight sit-in. Police didn't bother them. In recent days, police have fired tear gas and clubbed protesters. The UN said more than 100 people have died in the unrest that surrounded Ben Ali's ouster. Ben Ali's longtime Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, kept his post and is trying to convince Tunisians a new era has arrived – even if the composition of the interim government has many faces from the old guard. Interim President Fouad Mebazaa went on television and promised to live up to the people's revolt, which he called a “revolution”. Swiss officials estimate Tunisian government officials have put about $620 million into Swiss banks, and the anti-corruption group Transparency International France and two other associations filed suit in Paris alleging corruption by Ben Ali and his wife. Tunisia's official TAP news agency reported that the Central Bank had taken control of Banque Zitouna, a bank founded by a son-in-law of Ben Ali, to protect the deposits of accountholders and prevent a run on the bank. A curfew remains in place, though the government shortened it as security improved. “Investigations will be carried out in order for them to face justice,” a statement read out on state television said, citing an “official source”. The statement apologized for not giving more details about the family members.
