BBC News with David Legge
The Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has been forced from power after a month of protests over unemployment and high food prices. The announcement was made on state TV by the Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, who said he was now assuming power. He said that Mr Ben Ali was temporarily unable to exercise his duties.
"And I promise throughout the period in which I
assume
this responsibility to respect the law and to
carry out
the political, economic and social reforms that have been announced."
It's still not clear where the former Tunisian president is, but he's left the country. A government spokesman in Malta said that a plane believed to be carrying Mr Ben Ali had earlier requested to fly over the country's airspace. Wyre Davies ha been following the day's events in Tunis.
At the end of a dramatic day here in Tunisia, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled with his family,
no longer
able to
hold back
the growing tide of public discontent and anger with his regime. Thousands of protesters had earlier
descended on
the hated Ministry of Interior in Tunis, the symbol for many of a corrupt and discredited government. The protesters have paid a heavy price. Overnight, several people were killed or injured in clashes with the army and police. More than 60 have died in nationwide protests in recent weeks. But tonight, they ignored the