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Sunday, February 10, 2013

Tunisian president's secular party quits Islamist-led government

TUNIS (Reuters) - The secular party of Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki withdrew its three ministers from the Islamist-led government on Sunday, saying its demands for cabinet changes had not been met.

The decision by Marzouki's Congress for the Republic Party deals a further blow to Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali's government, already reeling from last week's assassination of secular opposition leader Chokri Belaid.

Tunisia's President Moncef Marzouki reacts as he delivers his speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, February 6, 2013. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
Tunisia's President Moncef Marzouki reacts as he delivers his speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, February 6, 2013. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

"We have been saying for a week that if the foreign and justice ministers were not changed, we would withdraw from the government," party official Ben Amor told Reuters.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara; Writing by Alistair Lyon; Editing by Alison Williams)

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