Tunisia gets praise but concerns linger

DEAUVILLE, France, May 27 (UPI) -- World leaders at the G8 summit in France said they committed to raise money to help benefit Tunisia, though concerns linger over democratic reform.

A protest suicide sparked the so-called Jasmine Revolution that brought an end to the regime of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali after more than 23 years in power. The revolution in Tunisia inspired similar protests in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa.

Members of the Group of Eight industrialized nations at a French summit agreed to the Deauville Partnership that outlined aid for Arab countries like Tunisia that are transitioning to more open democracies.

"Tunisia and Egypt are the first countries to commit to this transition and to join the Deauville Partnership," a joint G8 statement read. "The multilateral development banks are prepared to raise more than $20 billion, of which $4.9 billion will come from the European Investment Bank, to benefit Egypt and Tunisia by 2013."

Tunisian Prime Minister Beji Caid Sebsi shook up the country's Cabinet in early March but kept four influential ministers in place from the previous regime. The government said recently it was delaying elections by three months to October.

"I think we're sympathetic with the challenges that they face trying to move toward democratic elections in such a short period after such a long time of autocratic rule," said Mark Toner, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, during a press briefing. "That said, too long a delay would be of concern."