TUNIS - Three Tunisian ministers resignedon Tuesday, leaving the caretaker government which took over
power after the president was overthrown teetering on the brinkof collapse.The new resignations meant that in the space of 72 hours theprime minister and five ministers have now quit, the worstpolitical crisis in Tunisia since veteran leader Zine al-AbidineBen Ali was ousted a month and a half ago.
A source close to the government told Reuters that the newprime minister, Beji Caid Sebsi, will this week announce thecreation of a representative council whose job it will be torewrite the constitution before new elections.
That could relieve pressure on the government from itsopponents but it was not clear if it would be enough for it tosurvive.
The ministers who resigned on Tuesday included Ahmed NejibChebbi, the regional development minister, and Ahmed Brahim, thehigher education minister.