Tunisia's Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has said he is assuming power after violent clashes left the country in a state of emergency.
His announcement came amid reports President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had left the country.
A national state of emergency had earlier been declared, following the dismissal of the government.
Unconfirmed reports suggested the head of the army and the parliament had joined forces with the prime minister to form a "new leadership committee".
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Sources at Tunis Airport also indicated the army had taken control of the airport and that airspace had been closed.
Sky News foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall said it was likely the army had engineered the current state of affairs.
"The army were the ones who surrounded the presidential palace, they surrounded the airport.
"The state of emergency is enforced by them.
"It's not even certain that Ben Ali declared the state of emergency, he may already have been on his way out at that point.
"When I looked at the translation of this announcement [from the prime minister] - yes they put a man in a suit and tie up to say it, but I think there is a man in a uniform standing behind the curtain.
"The people pulling the strings in the short term and probably the medium term will be the army and at the moment this is not a revolution, this is a coup."
Riots in Tunisia have forced British tourists to be evacuated
Reports also claim 13 people have now been killed in violent clashes in the capital of Tunis and the town of Ras Jebel.
Ten of the victims were killed in Tunis, said two sources from Charles Nicolle hospital
One witness from Ras Jebel, who identified herself as Narjes, said: "I saw two dead people with my own eyes after police fired."
Police also fired tear gas on those protesting after they climbed on to the roof of the Interior Ministry, seen by many as a symbol of the country's authoritarian rule.
Residents clash with police as unrest in Tunisia continues
Meanwhile, British tour operator Thomas Cook has confirmed it is evacuating 1,800 tourists.
The firm said it has not seen any specific problems for its holidaymakers in the North African nation, but was asking everyone to leave as a precaution.
Tunisia has been rocked by unrest sparked by anger at unemployment and at a leadership many see as controlling and corrupt.
The president, who came to power in a 1987 coup, has sent many opponents to jail or into exile, and clamped down on the media and social networking sites in the country.
On Friday, thousands of angry demonstrators marched through capital city Tunis to demand his resignation.
Other UK-based tour operators, Thomson and First Choice, have also advised cutomers to board flights on Friday if they wish to leave the country.
They added that all excursions and four Sunday flights to Tunisia have also been cancelled.
On Thursday, Britain's Foreign Office changed its advice regarding travel to Tunisia, warning against all non-essential travel to the country.
It cited violence in areas including Tunis, Hammamet and Douze, all popular with tourists.
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