[Ennahar] Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has made a cabinet reshuffle marked by the replacement of the Communications Minister Osama Romdhani after social unrest in the region of Sidi Bouzid, said Wednesday Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi.This government reshuffle occurs in the wake of social unrest that rocked Tunisia in recent days after an attempted suicide of a young street vendor of fruit and vegetables in the region of Sidi Bouzid (West Central).
Mr. Romdhani was replaced by Samir Abid, Minister of Youth and Sport, whose position has been entrusted to Abdelhamid Slama. It was unclear Wednesday whether Mr. Romdhani would be called to other duties in the government.
As part of this redesign, Kamel Omran was appointed minister of religious affairs, replacing Boubaker El Akhzouri and Slimane Wrak was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of European affairs.
Earlier in the day, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, legal opposition) called for the resignation of the Ministers of Interior and Communication, responsible, according to them, for the deterioration of the situation following social unrest Sidi Bouzid.