TUNİS
Tunisia's new government secured a confidence vote at the parliament.
The 217-seat National Constituent Assembly's 139 legislators voted in favor of the government led by Prime Minister Ali Larayedh while 45 voted against and 13 abstained.
Larayedh said he will focus on improving national security and boosting the country's economic development and he pledged to reduce violence, stop terrorist activities.
Larayedh said he will work on reaching a consensus to hold general elections at the end of October or early November.
Since the ouster of the country's former president, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, in 2011, Tunisia has struggled to stabilize its political system after an uprising that inspired the Arab Spring.
The country's former prime minister, Hammadi al-Jabali, resigned after his efforts to set up a government of technocrats failed to get the backing from his ruling Ennahda party and the government's other coalition partners.
Larayedh, a former minister of interior, was charged with forming a new government following street protests ensued after the assassination of Chokri Belaid, a leftist opposition leader.
