TUNIS: Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi resigned Sunday and was replaced by Beji Caid Essebsi, a former minister, after anti-government protests left five people dead over the weekend. Security forces again clashed with protesters in Tunis demanding the removal of some ministers of Ghannouchi's interim government before the premier announced his resignation. “The acts of violence and looting, the unrest and the fires on Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis Saturday have left five people dead,” said a ministry statement quoted by TAP news agency. “These human losses happened during the clashes” with “interior security forces which tried to push back a group of young people armed with knives and stones that tried to storm the Interior Ministry headquarters”. The statement said 16 security officers were wounded by stones and other objects. An investigation is underway to shed light on the circumstances of the deaths and injuries, it added. The ministry said the “acts committed by these agitators, who do not want Tunisia to be stable and to overcome these exceptional times (were) serious”. Ghannouchi earlier said he decided to quit after just over six weeks as interim prime minister but was “not running away from responsibility”. “I am not ready to be the person who takes decisions that would end up causing casualties,” Ghannouchi said. “This resignation will serve Tunisia, and the revolution and the future of Tunisia,” he added. Interim President Foued Mebazaa appointed Caid Essebsi, 84, to succeed Ghannouchi who is 69.
