TUNIS, Tunisia -- Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba, the longest ruling elected leader in Africa and the Arab world, was deposed today by his newly appointed prime minister, who said the 84-year-old president's 'senility' and poor health necessitated the change.
Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, 51, appointed by Bourguiba Oct. 2, told a national broadcast of state-run Radio Tunis at dawn that pursuant to the constitution he had become president and chief of the armed forces.
Western and Arab analysts in Tunis and elsewhere called the change a bloodless coup that was necessary to confront some of the social and economic problems, such as Moslem fundamentalism, facing the small Arab Mediterranean country of 7 million people.
But they said it was a sad ending for the man who had led Tunisia since its independence from France in 1956 and who liked to be known as the 'supreme combatant.'
Government sources said the takeover was apparently a near-unanimous decision within the government and was based on a medical report by seven doctors that Bourguiba's 'physical and mental state of health no longer permitted him to perform his functions.'
The sources said only two ministers opposed the decision, Information Minister Mohamed Sayah and Transport Minister Mansour Skhiri, and they were placed under house arrest, along with a close friend of Bourguiba's, Mahmoud Bel Hassine.
Ben Ali immediately named a new government, replacing four top ministers. He was to be sworn in later today in an emergency session of parliament.
Foreign Minister Hedi Mabrouk, who learned of the change while representing Tunisia at the Arab summit in Amman, was replaced by Mahmoud Mestiri, who had just been named ambassador to France and had served as U.N. ambassador in New York.
Hedi Bakoush, 57, who had been social affairs minister and a close friend of Ben Ali's, became prime minister.
Ben Ali said the constitution must be immediately amended to eliminate the provision for a president-for-life and making the prime minister his unelected constitutional successor.
Sources close to the presidency said Ben Ali had recently discussed with Bourguiba the possibility of the change in leadership due to the aging leader's poor health.
In Paris, a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry said it was uncertain how the change took place.
'The indications we have are that the prime minister moved aside Mr. Bourguiba and became president,' the spokesman said. 'It was not a violent coup d'etat, there was no combat. It was done peacefully. The new president cited the state of health of Mr. Bourguiba.'
He said France, Tunisia's former colonial ruler, is watching the situation closely.
Ben Ali, who had always pledged loyalty to the founder of Tunisia, paid homage to Bourguiba and said he hoped to govern without vengeance or malice.
Ben Ali is also known for his stern stand against Moslem fundamentalism. His star had risen since April 1986 when he became interior minister and actively dealt with the issue of fundamentalism.
His nomination as prime minister followed the trial of 90 Moslem militants accused of trying to topple the government and install a pro-Iranian regime in Tunis. Seven militants were sentenced to death, including five in abstentia. The two in custody were hanged Oct. 15.
Ben Ali has his work cut out for him. There is a need to push through radical reforms aimed at liberalizing the economy and cutting government investment in industry. Western diplomats have noted that Bourguiba had become increasingly out of touch with the needs of his people.
