Tunisian premier-designate Mehdi Jomaa, chosen to form a transitional government, promised Friday to do his utmost to ensure transparent elections and bring the country out of crisis, TAP news agency reported.

Tunisian premier-designate Mehdi Jomaa, chosen to form a transitional government, promised Friday to do his utmost to ensure transparent elections and bring the country out of crisis, TAP news agency reported.

Jomaa said he would "favor the appropriate conditions for transparent and credible elections, the security of Tunisians and promoting the economy with the aim of emerging from the crisis" that erupted with the July assassination of a leading opposition MP.

TAP said he also committed himself to "guarantee the neutrality of the administration, of the security apparatus and the army".

Jomaa's remarks came in a statement from the Socialist party, with whose leader he spoke ahead of a 1500 GMT meeting at which the ruling Islamist party Ennahda and others are to discuss the mechanism for current premier Ali Larayedh to step down and for Jomaa to take office.