Tunisian new PM announces interim cabinet

TUNIS - Tunisian new Prime Minister Mehdi Jemaa announced Sunday night the lineup of his interim cabinet comprising 21 ministers and seven deputy ministers.

"We hope this government will be the last transitional government before (the nation) forms a stable government," Jemaa told reporters.

He has decided to let incumbent Interior Minister Lotfi Ben Jeddou stay in the government, despite having to postpone the announcement of his cabinet lineup for one day due to the opposition's objection to Jeddou keeping his job.

The opposition charged Jeddou failed to prevent the assassination of leftist politician Mohamed Brahmi last July. But Jemaa insisted it is the prime minister's responsibility to form the cabinet.

"Recently, there was an amelioration in security. The decision aims to preserve the continuity. We will keep him (Ben Jeddou) and provide him with more assistance. Therefore, we added a new deputy interior minister," Jemaa explained.

Jemaa, endorsed as the nation's interim prime minister by the ruling Islamist Ennahdha party, appealed to the Tunisian people for their consensus and support.

"We hope to be able to pave the way and provide a good environment for the next elections," Jemaa added.