TUNIS
By Reda al-Tamtam
Tunisia's President Moncef Marzouqi on Friday will officially task outgoing industry minister Mehdi Jomaa with forming a new government, the Tunisian Presidency said.
The move comes one day after Prime Minister Ali Larayedh tendered his resignation.
Last month, Tunisia's ruling Ennahda party and opposition picked up Jomaa as the country's new premier.
The Ennahda-led government had promised to resign – once consensus is reached on a new premier – to allow the formation of an interim cabinet to oversee upcoming parliamentary elections.
Political tension has engulfed Tunisia since the February assassination of opposition leader Choukri Belaid.
The crisis intensified after a second assassination targeting leftist leader Mohamed al-Brahmi in July, which prompted mass rallies calling for the resignation of the Islamist-led government and the formation of a national salvation government.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
