Tunisia’s President Kais Saied must outline a timetable for his country's swift return to the “democratic path”, US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday.
Mr Saied invoked a national emergency over the coronavirus pandemic and poor governance to dismiss the prime minister, suspend parliament and seize executive control last week.
The move was welcomed by Tunisians, who took to the streets to show their support, but was branded a coup by his opponents.
In a phone call with Mr Saied, Mr Sullivan emphasised the need to quickly form "a new government, led by a capable prime minister, to stabilise Tunisia’s economy and confront the Covid-19 pandemic", as well as ensure the timely return of the elected parliament, the White House National Security Council said.
Mr Saied told his Algerian counterpart at the weekend that important decisions will be made soon, as Tunisians await the naming of a new prime minister.
Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune discussed developments in Tunisia by phone and Mr Saied assured him that the country was “on the right path to establish democracy and pluralism, and that there will be important decisions soon”, the Algerian presidency said in a post on Facebook.
Later on Sunday, Mr Saied visited Habib Bourguiba Street, the centre of protests in the capital, Tunis, and spoke to people on the street, local media reported.
Separately, Mr Saied met Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at Carthage Palace in Tunis on Friday to discuss ties between the two countries.
“I had the honour to convey the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince … to President Kais Saied,” Prince Faisal said.
The kingdom was among the first to issue a statement in support of stability in the country after last week’s crisis in Tunis.
Saudi Arabia was also among several countries in the region, including the UAE, to send medical aid to Tunisia as the country’s Covid-19 crisis worsened. They dispatched 169 oxygen concentrators, about 300 ventilators for intensive care units and one million N95 face masks.
“During my meeting with His Excellency, I reiterated the kingdom’s position in support of the security and stability of Tunisia and standing by everything that achieves prosperity and prosperity for the brothers in Tunisia,” said Prince Faisal.
Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda party, which branded the president’s move a coup, delayed a meeting of its highest council at the weekend after senior members called for party chief Rached Ghannouchi’s resignation over his handling of the political crisis, party officials said.
Dozens of younger party members and some of its leaders, including member of parliament Samir Dilou, urged Mr Ghannouchi to resign.
Mr Ghannouchi, who is also the Speaker of Parliament, has played a critical role in Tunisia's democratic crisis and has long been at loggerheads with the president – a contributing factor to the political crisis.
He has led Ennahda, the biggest party in parliament, for decades, including from exile in Britain before the revolution in 2011, after which he returned to a tumultuous welcome at Tunis airport. He stood for election for the first time in 2019 and won a parliamentary seat before becoming speaker.
Dr Anwar Gargash, UAE presidential adviser and former minister of state for foreign affairs, hit back at Mr Ghannouchi over a weekend interview with The Times in which the Ennahda leader claimed that the Emirates was behind Mr Saied's move.
"I was not surprised by Mr Rashid Ghannouchi’s dialogue with the London newspaper ... and his accusations against the Emirates. We have become accustomed to the use of the name of the Emirates by these authorities to justify local and structural shortcomings," he said. "My advice is to read the internal events of his country."
Meanwhile, a judge accused by rights groups of hiding terrorism-related files was placed under house arrest at the weekend, according to a local radio report and Reuters, which quoted security officials.
Judge Bechir Akremi’s detention comes after the president vowed to lead an anticorruption drive in all sectors – long a call of Mr Saied’s.
Right activists in Tunisia see Judge Akremi as symbolising corruption in the judiciary and have said that he is close to the Ennahda.
Lawyers and secular parties said the files he allegedly hid include those related to the 2013 assassination of two secular leaders, Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi, which led to massive protests at the time that ended with the overthrow of the government.
Judge Akremi has not commented on these accusations and was not immediately available for comment on Saturday.
Ennahda rejects accusations that it has ties to the judge or that it has interfered in judicial matters.
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
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Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
Oscars in the UAE
The 90th Academy Awards will be aired in the UAE from 3.30am on Monday, March 5 on OSN, with the ceremony starting at 5am
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8
Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
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Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.
Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.
The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
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