TUNIS, Tunisia, March 7 (UPI) -- The defense, interior, justice and foreign affairs ministers will keep their jobs in Tunisia but the new prime minister said Monday changes were on the horizon.
Tunisian Prime Minister Beji Caid Sebsi kept the ministers in place for the four key Cabinet positions when announcing a new government Monday, al-Jazeera reports.
Mohamed Ghannouchi bowed to protesters' demands and resigned as prime minister of Tunisia in late February.
Ghannouchi said his decision would serve the future of the Tunisian people as the country moves forward with government reforms. His resignation followed a wave of similar moves after demonstrations that eventually led to President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali fleeing the country.
Critics complain that despite the move to transform the government, the reshuffling is window dressing as many key ministers who were close to Ben Ali stayed in their positions, al-Jazeera adds. Sebsi said, however, the new government would pull Tunisia back from the "abyss."
The Tunisian government, in another move meant to allay opposition demands, said it legalized an Islamist party banned by the former regime. The decision paves the way for the Ennahda group to form an official political party that could run in elections this year.
