Tunisia's govt sees four resign on first day

Four ministers have resigned from Tunisia's day-old coalition government, undermining its hopes of calming unrest.

All those who have quit were opponents of President Ben Ali's iron-fisted 23-year rule.

He fled the country on Friday during violent clashes between anti-government protestors and riot police.

Junior Minister for Transportation and Equipment Anouar Ben Gueddour said that he had resigned along with Houssine Dimassi, the labour minister, and minister without portfolio Abdeljelil Bedoui.

The three are all members of a top labour union, the UGTT, which is not a party but is a movement that acts like a lobby and has a big nationwide base to mobilise people around the country.

The group’s supporters staged the protest in central Tunis today, calling for a general strike, constitutional changes and the release of all imprisoned union leaders.

Health Minister Mustapha Ben Jaafar of the FDLT opposition party also resigned.

Riot police fired tear gas at angry protesters today as Tunisia’s prime minister defended including some of the deeply unpopular old regime in a new unity government.

The capital Tunis has seen police fire tear gas to scatter about 200 protesters marching toward the Interior Ministry.