Tunisia's Parliamentary Speaker Becomes President

Tunisia's Parliamentary Speaker, Fouad Mebazzaa, was sworn in as Tunisia's interim president yesterday. Mebazza will become president Following President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's flight from the country after increasingly violent protests left at least 13 dead. The protests, exceedingly rare under Tunisia's authoritarian government, began last month after a shopkeeper committed suicide in protest against being prevented from selling fruit and vegetables by the police. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi previously announced that he would take the position after Ali signed a decree providing him with presidential powers, but was rebuked by Tunisia's Constitutional Council and prevented from doing so. Although there is generally widespread celebration in Tunisia after 23 years of Ali's corrupt rule, looting and sporadic gunfire have occurred overnight as Mebazza takes power, leading to a strict curfew and military patrols in the streets to maintain order. The international community has overwhelmingly reacted positively, with both the U.S. and EU praising the development and calling for democratic elections in the near future.

Chris Bilbro