Prime Minister takes control as Tunisia struggles to keep the peace

Tunisia's Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has said he is taking power in the riot-torn country, with reports suggesting that President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has fled.

• Demonstrators throws stones at police during clashes in Tunis today. Picture: AP

Thousands of protestors have mobbed the capital demanding the resignation of Ben Ali. Today, this culminated in the closure of Tunisian airspace and police beating dissidents in the streets of the North African nation.

In response to the riots, the president declared a state of emergency, dissolved the government and promised new legislative elections within six months.

This evening, news reports, thus far unconfirmed, have cited government sources in Tunisia claiming Ben Ali has left the country.

It has been suggested that he has fled to Paris, with one source suggesting that French police are awaiting Ben Ali's arrival.

As a result of the unrest, thousands of British holidaymakers have had their trips to the tourist haven cut short.

Thomas Cook said it was suspending its Tunisia programme and bringing back 1,800 holidaymakers currently in the country.

Six flights were bringing the tourists home, with the first due to arrive at Manchester at 2.30pm this afternoon.

Four flights are due to come in to Manchester and two to Gatwick in West Sussex.

Jim Thompson, 76, from East Kilbride, was 10 days into his break in Hammamet with his wife Eleanor, 71, when they were forced to leave.

Mr Thompson, a retired technical author, said: "There were crowds running up the streets, smashing windows and looting.

"This morning I saw a big shop window broken and people were coming out with loads of shoes.

"It was horrible. I was panicked."

Medical officials reported 13 people had died in riots last night, which came after the president announced concessions.

Protesters thronged the capital, fuelled by pent-up anger at high unemployment and at a leadership many see as corrupt.

In response, Ben Ali dissolved the government and also promised that early legislative elections would take place within six months. He made no reference to any resignation of his own.

Under the state of emergency, a curfew barring the circulation of people or vehicles took effect immediately until 7 am on Saturday.

Security forces and soldiers "can use their weapons against any suspicious person who doesn't respect the order to stop or tries to flee," it warned.

In Paris, an Air France spokeswoman confirmed that Tunisia's air space had been ordered closed, adding that the French airline had stopped all its flights there until further notice. Lutfhansa also cancelled its only flight to Tunis from Frankfurt.