Tunisia government under pressure

All ministers in Tunisia's interim government have quit the RCD party of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the ousted president, but they still remain in their cabinet posts.

The move came on Thursday partly in response to the resignations of three members of cabinet who belonged to the main UGTT trade union.

Abdessalem Jrad, secretary-general of the UGTT, had made it clear that the group could not be part of a government "that includes symbols of the old regime".

Ben Ali fled into exile in Saudi Arabia on January 14 amid a popular uprising.

State television reported that the central committee of RCD had been dissolved, as many committee members, who were also government ministers, had quit the party. The party itself would continue to operate, the report said.

The developments come against a backdrop of continued protests against the new government, with many Tunisians angry that several members of the previous government were named in the "unity government" announced on Monday.

Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reporting from outside the offices of the prime minister and the interim president in Tunis said that, "this government is being undermined by ongoing protests. We just heard some gunshots.Read More