CINA

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TUNISIAN PEOPLE'S REVOLUTION

1. Today's news:

The announcement of a new 'unity government' by Mohamed Ghannouchi, the Tunisian "prime minister", has been met with massive anger by thousands of  protesters, who say too many members (incl. the new "PM") of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's party remain in power.

The "PM" announced that the former defence, foreign, interior and finance ministers will keep their key posts in the new government formed after the public uprising led to the flight of President Ben Ali.

Today's mass protests in Tunis and several other cities forced (until now) three new ministers to resign.

The General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT), which played a key role in protests against the North African state's ousted president, refused to recognise the new government.

Today in the morning at an extraordinary meeting UGTT has decided "not to recognise the new government," Ifa Nasr, union spokesman, said a short while ago.

In Tunis, riot police fired tear gas and clashed with protesters during a rally against the new government in the centre of the capital.

For more updated news please check out LabourStart and the Al-Jazeera Special "Uprising in Tunisia"!

 
2. "For freedom, democracy and social justice!", statement by the Tunisian Communist Workers' Party (PCOT), Jan. 15:

In its statement issued in Tunis PCOT renewed its invitation to the opposition to convene a national assembly backed up by renewed coordination, at national and local level, of support for specific and concrete demands so that the movement does not run out of steam.

“The popular protests are still ongoing, no one can predict either their length nor development. Tunisia entered a new phase in its history characterised by the rise of the people and their desire to regain freedom, rights and dignity.”

This raises the responsibilities of the opposition, especially its most radical wing, to find new policy solutions for a program providing a plan for overall change in Tunisia said the party.

Listing the most important and immediate issues as the release of all prisoners; bringing to account those responsible for repression, plunder of property and the killing of citizens, the repeal of all security restrictions and the restoration of freedoms and legality, frteedom of expression, organization and assembly the party called for immediate measures ‘for the world of work: income security, health and immediate recognition of trade union rights and the independent organisation of the unemployed and the precariously employed.

“The Workers’ Communist Party will remain, as it has always been, on the side of workers, deprived and poor, first in line for a new order in Tunisia, for freedom, democracy and social justice.”