from Betty Otieno
http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=203651
TUNIS – Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has gone on state television to say he is assuming power in Tunisia. The Tunisian army reportedly seized the airport and closed Tunisian airspace to all traffic.
The announcement Friday came after thousands of protesters mobbed the capital of Tunis to demand the ouster of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
In response to the riots, the president declared a state of emergency in the North African nation, dissolved the government and promised new legislative elections within six months.
Unconfirmed news reports, citing unidentified government sources in Tunisia, said Ben Ali had left the country, reportedly to France. The 74-year-old leader came to power in a bloodless coup in 1987, taking over for a man called formally President-for-Life.
An AP Television News reporter heard gunfire in the center of the Tunisian capital late Friday, as well as the popping of tear gas pistols as police fired on protesters. Police have repeatedly fired on crowds during nearly a month of riots.
Tear gas was fired earlier Friday as protesters climbed atop the roof of the Interior Ministry.
The president announced earlier in the day that he would dismiss his government and call new legislative elections after thousands of protesters marched through the capital to demand his ouster.
Protesters have been fueled by pent-up anger at high unemployment and at a leadership many see as controlling and corrupt.
Tunisian medical officials say 13 people have died in new unrest in the North African nation.
International tour operators evacuated thousands of vacationers from Tunisia on Friday as the civil unrest intensified.
Thomas Cook said it was asking its roughly 3,800 British, Irish, and German customers in Tunisia to leave the country, while some 200 Dutch tourists were repatriated Thursday night via a chartered flight. U.S. and European governments have issued a series of travel alerts warning their citizens away from nonessential travel to Tunisia.