Tunisian government upbeat after first meeting

Tunisia's fragile new government emerged from its first meeting today hopeful that it can reunite a country scarred by deadly riots, and calm people still seething at the party which reigned supreme for 23 years.

The army fired warning shots to calm a noisy but peaceful protest in front of the long-ruling RCD party's headquarters, where demonstrators took down a huge sign and demanded that the government - dominated by members of the old guard - be dismantled too.