Tunisian PM resigns over protests

Tunisian interim Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has announced on state TV that he is resigning – a key demand of demonstrators.

He was speaking at a news conference in Tunis, after making a lengthy speech defending his record in government.

Mr Ghannouchi is seen as being too close to former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who was toppled in an uprising last month.

Mr Ghannouchi had served under Mr Ben Ali since 1999.

“After having taken more than one week of thinking, I became convinced, and my family shared my conviction, and decided to resign, to resign as prime minister. It is not fleeing my responsibilities; I have been shouldering my responsibilities since 14 January [when Mr Ben Ali fled],” he said.

Earlier in the day, police in Tunis fired tear gas and warning shots to disperse the latest demonstration calling for a new government and a new constitution on a third day of violence.

Huge protests

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The BBC’s Paul Moss in Tunis: “Police are giving protesters merciless beatings”

On Friday and Saturday, anti-government protesters held huge rallies calling for Mr Ghannouchi’s resignation.

At least three people were killed in clashes between hundreds of demonstrators and security forces in Tunis on Saturday.

Tunisia’s government had insisted it was introducing reforms as fast as it could, and that they were planning to hold elections by July.

But those promises did not seem to satisfy the protesters, correspondents say.