Tunisia's new government emerges but protesters want Ben Ali's cronies out

A FRAGILE new government emerged in Tunisia last night from its first meeting, hoping to heal a country scarred by deadly riots and win over people still angry at the party which held sway for 23 years.

The army fired warning shots to calm a noisy but peaceful protest in front of the 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.

Ministers in the multi-party Cabinet met for four hours yesterday afternoon and came out later to show a united front.

The government suggested that Islamists imprisoned under ousted president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali would get amnesty. It pledged to make security the top priority, to prepare for presidential elections and speed up reforms, government spokesman Tayyib al-Bakouchi said.Ministers pledged to restore goods and property appropriated by the ruling party under Mr Ben Ali, to reopen schools closed by violence and remove security forces stationed at universities.

"We will not sleep until normality returns to all aspects of life," Mr Bakouchi said.

The government declared three days of mourning, and held a moment of silence for the dozens of people killed in almost a month of unrest leading up to Mr Ben Ali fleeing last Friday.

Education minister Naguib Ahmed Ibrahim said all political prisoners would be released no matter what their ideology. This was widely understood to mean Islamic activists jailed under strict anti-terrorism laws.

"I am optimistic," said Ahmad Ouaines, new under secretary of state. "We believe in speaking to the people. The progression is like a speedy express train."

Sleim Emama, a blogger appointed to the government, tweeted throughout the meeting and at the end told reporters, "This is a good government."

Tensions remained, however.

Earlier yesterday, the army fired warning shots in the capital, Tunis, as demonstrators converged on the RCD building. Protesters dismantled the sign bearing its name, carrying off pieces of its red letters.The building was being protected by a tank, several trucks and troops.

Demonstrators have criticised the new unity government for being mostly made up of politicians from the RCD, founded by Mr Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia last Friday.

The crowd of protesters swelled to 2,000 people yesterday, many chanting: "The people want the government down!" Others waved baguettes to symbolise the need to end food shortages.

One father, Ahmad al-Ouni, brought his children aged eight and four to the protest with a backpack of snacks and juice.

"I want them to smell their free country and to see the new Tunis without fear," Mr Ouni said while his children drew Tunisian flags on paper.

Another demonstrator said the protests would continue until all with RCD links left office. "This revolution cannot be stolen from us, and we will not tire from demonstrating, and we will come out every day if we have to," said Mohsen Kaabi, 55, a former army officer.

The caretaker government is struggling to calm the moderate Muslim nation seen as an ally in the fight against terrorism.

In a sign of the difficulties Zouheir M'dhaffer, a member of the RCD, resigned before the Cabinet met yesterday. Four other ministers resigned earlier in the week.