Crisis deepens in Tunisia as PM set to quit

[Bosonic]

Source: AFP

TUNIS — Premier Hamadi Jebali could resign Tuesday, an aide said, after his Ennahda party rebuffed his plan to form a non-partisan cabinet to steer Tunisia from a crisis sparked by the killing of a leftwing politician.

Jebali, who had warned of chaos if his plan fell through, made a last ditch effort to push for "another solution" and was due to meet President Moncef Marzouki late afternoon.

His spokesman Ridha Kazdaghli said the premier "could announce his resignation" at the meeting.

Suggestions that Jebali would quit were also made by two government members and an Ennahda party official.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hWg4mKial3WbafScb_bKPRnMVaNw?docId=CNG.3bfe1fc98e6567ff620ad4ec758bf966.4c1

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Tunisian PM Jebali tells news conference he has quit. #BREAKING

https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/303928005552644096

[jannyk]

1. Tunisian PM Quits - BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21508498

Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali has resigned after failing to reach agreement on forming a new government. Mr Jebali had been trying to form a new coalition in response to the political crisis sparked by the killing of opposition leader Chokri Belaid

"I vowed that if my initiative did not succeed, I would resign and I have done so," Mr Jebali told a news conference after meeting President Moncef Marzouki.

Describing his step as "a big disappointment", he said he was standing down to "fulfill a promise made to the people."