Last Modified: 14 Jan 2011 18:06 GMT
Tunisia's long-standing president has left the country amid violent protests and the prime minister has taken over control of the government from him.
"Since the president is temporarily unable to exercise his duties, it has been decided that the prime minister will exercise temporarily the [presidential] duties," Mohamed Ghannouchi, the Tunisian prime minister, said on state television.
Ghannouchi is now the interim president.
He has vowed to respect the constitution and restore stability.
Friday's developments come following violent clashes in the capital, Tunis, over unemployment and rising food prices.
State media earlier reported that Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the president, had imposed a state of emergency in the country and promised fresh legislative elections within six months in an attempt to quell the wave of dissent sweeping across the country.
There were also reports that the airport in Tunis had been surrounded by troops and the country's airspace has been closed. Air France, the main international airline into and out of Tunisia announced that it had ceased flights to Tunisia following that announcement.
State TV also reported that gatherings of more than three people had been banned.
Tunisian state television said on Friday it was expecting the announcement of an "historic decision" which will satisfy the desires of the north African country's people.
Ben Ali had been in power for the last 27 years. On Thursday, he vowed not to seek re-election and reduced food prices in a bid to placate protesters.
But the pledges seemed to have little effect as fresh street protests erupted on Friday.
14/01/2011 After mounting demands for him to step down, Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali left the country on Friday, in what state media called a ‘historic development,’ paving the way for the country’s Prime Minister to assume the presidency’s responsibilities.
The announcement was made by Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi who declared on state television that he had taken over as interim president after Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had left the country. He also called on Tunisians to unite.
The historic development came after days of unrest in Tunis, with tens of protests in which Tunisians called for President Ben Ali, who has been in power since 1987, to step down. It was hailed by the opposition forces in the country as a historic victory that put an end to tens of years in which Ben Ali had the absolute authority in the country.
The announcement also came after national state of emergency was declared in Tunis on Friday and after the army took control of the airport as weeks of unrest escalated, right after embattled President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali sacked the government and called for early elections.
The Tunisian government said it had declared a national state of emergency, banning public gatherings and authorizing security forces to fire on anyone refusing to obey orders. Meanwhile, the army took control of Tunisia's main international Tunis Carthage airport Friday and the country's airspace was shut down.
Earlier during the day, Ben Ali fired his government and declared a state of emergency in the country as escalating protests against his rule forced the evacuation of thousands of European tourists.
One day earlier, Ben Ali delivered a historic speech in which he vowed that he would stand down in 2014 and prices of basic foodstuffs would be cut, without being able to end the protests against his rule. On Friday, several hundred protesters demonstrated in the capital Friday. "No to Ben Ali, the uprising continues," shouted demonstrators in a march that first numbered a few dozen people but quickly swelled despite the presence of police, AFP reporters said.
Police threw up a barricade to stop the march from reaching the interior ministry, blamed for a harsh crackdown on protests that a rights group says has killed 66 people, several times higher than the official toll.
"The interior ministry is a ministry of terror," the crowd shouted, paying tribute to the "blood of the martyrs".
In demonstrations in other towns, including western Sidi Bouzid where a wave of protests was unleashed mid-December, thousands of marchers shouted "Ben Ali out", AFP reporters said.
WORLD CONCERNED…
Meanwhile, the world expressed concerned over the developments in Tunis.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday appealed for "restraint" by all sides in Tunisia and for a negotiated end to the deadly unrest in the North African nation. "I've been very closely following the situation in Tunisia with concern," Ban told a press conference. "I'm saddened by the loss of lives and call again for restraint in the use of force and full respect for freedom of expression and association," he added. "The political situation is developing fast. Every effort must be made by all concerned parties to establish dialogue and resolve problems peacefully to prevent further losses, violence and escalation," Ban said. "I will continue to discuss this matter with the concerned parties," said the UN leader.
France's Foreign Ministry said on Friday its citizens should avoid traveling to Tunisia unless it is urgent after the Tunisian government declared a state of emergency. "Given the unstable situation ... it is strongly recommended to postpone all travel that is not urgent," the ministry said in a statement on its website.
The State Department advised US citizens on Thursday to put off nonessential travel to Tunisia, citing the "intensifying political and social unrest" in the North African country. "The US Department of State alerts US citizens to the intensifying political and social unrest in Tunisia and recommends deferring nonessential travel to Tunisia at this time," the State Department said in a travel alert. More
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