Tunisian Prime Minister announces resignation, crisis deepens

Jebali proposed a technocratic government, which failed to garner support Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali confirmed on Tuesday that he had submitted his resignation to President Moncef Marzouki, after his failure to form a technocratic government . "I promised and assured that, in the event that my initiative failed, I would resign as head of the government, and that is what I have done," Jebali said in remarks broadcast on television after meeting Marzouki.
The Islamist politician rejected the idea of forming a mixed government comprising politicians and national entities, adding that such a government would not serve Tunisia's interests.
He claimed that his resignation "does not mean the failure of Tunisia or the Tunisian revolution," stressing the urgent need to set a date for future elections.
The 64-year old revealed that he does not want to be part of any government which fails to serve the interests of Tunisian people.
Jebali, whose efforts to form a government of technocrats were rebuffed on Monday by his own Ennahda party, said he was standing down to "fulfill a promise made to the people."
Additional reporting: AFP