Tunisia interim prime minister said Friday that his country would hold its first free and democratic elections since independence, has vowed to leave politics after the election.
"We want to make the next election the first legitimate and transparent elections since independence," the Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi said Friday on the provisional state television Tunis.
"After this period of transition - in all honesty - I will let no political role, I myself if I am elected or appointed," he said. "I will leave politics and retire."
Tunisia gained independence from France in 1956.
Ghannouchi comments came in an interview with two independent journalists Thursday that the TV was presented on Friday in Tunis.
Ghannouchi spoke of policy reforms is said that "every scrap of undemocratic laws, including laws relating to political parties, elections, and the law to combat terrorism that has been mistreated by the previous regime."
"I lived like all Tunisians, in pain and fear," under former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali - who was overthrown in a revolt a week ago - Ghannouchi said.
Ghannouchi has resigned from his party this week and was named interim prime minister by interim President Fouad Mebazaa.
The new government of Tunisia is to interview 33 people close to Ben Ali, a senior official said Friday, while 1200 others who "spread terror among the population and committing unacceptable acts" were arrested, according to state media.
Tunisian Interior Minister Ahmed Friaa announced arrests in a news conference, said "33 close family members of former president has been tested and is now being questioned."
"These people are precious and enormous sums of money in their possession were seized," the official news agency TAP, citing Friaa, a relic of the old government.
In an interview aired Friday, Ghannouchi said: "We have frozen the bank accounts and properties in the country," referring to ownership of households close to the president.
"A judge was appointed to determine how to manage their wealth," Ghannouchi said.
He said the Tunisian government is seeking to freeze assets belonging to relatives of former president and said the money would end up back in the Tunisian people.
The former presidential candidate, Vice President Ali SERIATE guard was among those questioned, Fria said. Fria also confirmed previous reports that Imed Trabelsi, nephew of the deposed president is one of those being interrogated.
The names of respondents will not be released until "they are doomed," TAP.
Some of the 1,200 people arrested by the new government were released, said Friaa, while 382 others face charges that carry illegal firearms, looting and violence.
Friaa described those who died in the recent riots in Tunisia as "martyrs of the Revolution", according to TAP.
He said all political parties who have requested officially approved "positive response was received," according to TAP, including Tunisia, Green Party, Socialist Left Party and Tunisia patriotic and democratic Labour Party.
Friaa also said that a new group called the Baath party - which seems to be a offshot the party of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein - has also requested authorization.
Tunis TV video showed thousands of demonstrators in the capital, Tunis, for a second day on Friday, calling the new government is a sham and demanded that officials with ties to the old guard of fire.
The new government announced Thursday that Tunisia does not recognize political groups banned under the regime of Ben Ali and grant amnesty to all political prisoners.
Opinion Thursday was the first meeting of new cabinet formed by the interim leadership of the country in North Africa, they and other former members of the ruling party of Ben Ali tried to climb from his shadow.
Democratic Constitutional Rally and Ben Ali of the Central Committee of the previously demolished on Thursday, and all the council members who once belonged to the party is finished with it.
The party, known as RCD, suffered a blow this week when Ghannouchi Mebazaa and acting president of the party submitted their resignations, but they remained in the government, television reported Tunis.
Mebazaa said he plans to reduce "no link with the past," referring to the years of the unpopular authoritarian regime of the former regime. His government has appointed to lead Tunisia to new elections.
But for many Tunisians, waivers and promises are not enough.
"Tunisian people do not want this dictator to a party at the party," the English teacher Mohammed Basha said. "We want a real revolution. We do not want more lies, because we have had enough. Twenty-three years of lies."
Ben Ali has decided to Tunisia for 23 years. RCD initially formed a government of consensus with the opposition, but protesters demanded that members of the previous administration - which is called "remnants" - being swept out of power.
Ben Ali eviction after weeks of angry protests against the Tunisians was said poor living conditions, high unemployment, government corruption and repression. They were activated when Bouazizi Mohamed, a college graduate without a job, were fired after police seized a basket of fruit, which was his source of income. He died earlier this month.
More than 100 people died in protests that followed in the past five weeks, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The killed are victims of live fire, suicides and riots in prisons weekend.
The Rally of Tunisia, one of the most secular countries in the Arab world, have caused problems elsewhere in the region, including Algeria and Egypt.
"We want to make the next election the first legitimate and transparent elections since independence," the Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi said Friday on the provisional state television Tunis.
"After this period of transition - in all honesty - I will let no political role, I myself if I am elected or appointed," he said. "I will leave politics and retire."
Tunisia gained independence from France in 1956.
Ghannouchi comments came in an interview with two independent journalists Thursday that the TV was presented on Friday in Tunis.
Ghannouchi spoke of policy reforms is said that "every scrap of undemocratic laws, including laws relating to political parties, elections, and the law to combat terrorism that has been mistreated by the previous regime."
"I lived like all Tunisians, in pain and fear," under former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali - who was overthrown in a revolt a week ago - Ghannouchi said.
Ghannouchi has resigned from his party this week and was named interim prime minister by interim President Fouad Mebazaa.
The new government of Tunisia is to interview 33 people close to Ben Ali, a senior official said Friday, while 1200 others who "spread terror among the population and committing unacceptable acts" were arrested, according to state media.
Tunisian Interior Minister Ahmed Friaa announced arrests in a news conference, said "33 close family members of former president has been tested and is now being questioned."
"These people are precious and enormous sums of money in their possession were seized," the official news agency TAP, citing Friaa, a relic of the old government.
In an interview aired Friday, Ghannouchi said: "We have frozen the bank accounts and properties in the country," referring to ownership of households close to the president.
"A judge was appointed to determine how to manage their wealth," Ghannouchi said.
He said the Tunisian government is seeking to freeze assets belonging to relatives of former president and said the money would end up back in the Tunisian people.
The former presidential candidate, Vice President Ali SERIATE guard was among those questioned, Fria said. Fria also confirmed previous reports that Imed Trabelsi, nephew of the deposed president is one of those being interrogated.
The names of respondents will not be released until "they are doomed," TAP.
Some of the 1,200 people arrested by the new government were released, said Friaa, while 382 others face charges that carry illegal firearms, looting and violence.
Friaa described those who died in the recent riots in Tunisia as "martyrs of the Revolution", according to TAP.
He said all political parties who have requested officially approved "positive response was received," according to TAP, including Tunisia, Green Party, Socialist Left Party and Tunisia patriotic and democratic Labour Party.
Friaa also said that a new group called the Baath party - which seems to be a offshot the party of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein - has also requested authorization.
Tunis TV video showed thousands of demonstrators in the capital, Tunis, for a second day on Friday, calling the new government is a sham and demanded that officials with ties to the old guard of fire.
The new government announced Thursday that Tunisia does not recognize political groups banned under the regime of Ben Ali and grant amnesty to all political prisoners.
Opinion Thursday was the first meeting of new cabinet formed by the interim leadership of the country in North Africa, they and other former members of the ruling party of Ben Ali tried to climb from his shadow.
Democratic Constitutional Rally and Ben Ali of the Central Committee of the previously demolished on Thursday, and all the council members who once belonged to the party is finished with it.
The party, known as RCD, suffered a blow this week when Ghannouchi Mebazaa and acting president of the party submitted their resignations, but they remained in the government, television reported Tunis.
Mebazaa said he plans to reduce "no link with the past," referring to the years of the unpopular authoritarian regime of the former regime. His government has appointed to lead Tunisia to new elections.
But for many Tunisians, waivers and promises are not enough.
"Tunisian people do not want this dictator to a party at the party," the English teacher Mohammed Basha said. "We want a real revolution. We do not want more lies, because we have had enough. Twenty-three years of lies."
Ben Ali has decided to Tunisia for 23 years. RCD initially formed a government of consensus with the opposition, but protesters demanded that members of the previous administration - which is called "remnants" - being swept out of power.
Ben Ali eviction after weeks of angry protests against the Tunisians was said poor living conditions, high unemployment, government corruption and repression. They were activated when Bouazizi Mohamed, a college graduate without a job, were fired after police seized a basket of fruit, which was his source of income. He died earlier this month.
More than 100 people died in protests that followed in the past five weeks, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The killed are victims of live fire, suicides and riots in prisons weekend.
The Rally of Tunisia, one of the most secular countries in the Arab world, have caused problems elsewhere in the region, including Algeria and Egypt.