Presidents' men pull out as Islamist government wobbles
Sunday 10 February 2013
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EmailThe secular party of Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki withdrew its three ministers from the Islamist-led government today, saying its demands for Cabinet changes had not been met.
The decision by the Congress for the Republic party dealt a further blow to Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali's wobbling government.
"We have been saying for a week that if the foreign and justice ministers were not changed, we would withdraw," said party official Samir Ben Amor.
"This decision has nothing to do with the prime minister's decision to form a government of technocrats."
Mr Jebali said on Saturday that he would resign if his proposal to appoint a non-political Cabinet was rejected.
His own Ennahda party has already rejected his proposal.
But he insisted that government ministers must be replaced by people without political affiliation.
If his new team is accepted "I will continue in my role," Mr Jebali said.
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