TUNIS |
TUNIS (Reuters) - A surge of anger in the streets over police repression and poverty swept Tunisia's veteran strongman leader from power on Friday, sending a chill through unpopular authoritarian governments across the Arab world.
President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali stepped aside after two decades in power and looked to have flown to France, the former colonial power. Paris police said they were expecting him.
Ben Ali's prime minister told Tunisians he would steer the state until early elections. There was calm on the streets of Tunis under heavy security, but some analysts questioned whether the change of face at the top would satisfy the protesters.
After days of unrest that spread from provincial towns to the capital, leaving dozens dead as security forces struggled to contain angry young demonstrators, the government declared a state of emergency and imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew.
The violence and rapid turn of events sent shockwaves across the Arab world, where similar authoritarian rulers are deeply entrenched, but face mounting pressures from growing young populations, economic hardship and the appeal of militant Islam.
The United States led international calls for calm and for the people of Tunisia to be given a free choice of leaders. But Western powers have long turned a blind eye to rulers in the region who provide a bulwark against Islamist radicals.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: "Only dialogue can bring a democratic and lasting solution to the current crisis."
Tunis appeared quiet after the announcement on state television by Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi that he would act as president until elections could be held. It was not clear whether his taking charge would satisfy the protesters, however.
And it remained uncertain how far those around Ben Ali, only the second president Tunisia has had since independence from France, were ready to relinquish power to opposition groups.
"Since the president is temporarily unable to exercise his duties, it has been decided that the prime minister will exercise temporarily the duties," Ghannouchi said.
CALL FOR UNITY
"I call on the sons and daughters of Tunisia, of all political and intellectual persuasions, to unite to allow our beloved country to overcome this difficult period and to return to stability."
The latest unrest was sparked when police prevented an unemployed graduate from selling fruit without a license and he set fire to himself, dying shortly afterwards of his burns.
"Perhaps all the Arab governments are monitoring with eyes wide open what is happening in Tunisia," columnist Abdelrahman al-Rashed wrote in regional newspaper Asharq al-Awsat.
"Much of what prevents protest and civil disobedience is simply the psychological barrier," he said in an article after Ben Ali had made sweeping concessions but before he quit.
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