Tunisians appeared to be angered because the powerful posts in the new cabinet, which was unveiled on Monday, still in the hands of the old regime figures.

Three ministers of a general national labor union in Tunis has resigned from the newly formed government, as Tunisians appeared to be angered because the powerful posts in the new cabinet, which was unveiled on Monday, still in the hands of the old regime figures.

Tunisia's junior minister for transportation, Anouar Ben Gueddour, said on Tuesday that he has resigned along with Houssine Dimassi, the labour minister, and Abdeljelil Bedoui, a minister without portfolio.

Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi was one of eight ministers staying on from the previous government of the Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was Tunisia president since 1987 and was ousted by mass protests.
Ghannouchi said that the ministers remaining, including the defense, foreign, interior and finance ministers had acted "to preserve the national interest."

"They kept their posts because we need them at this time," Ghannouchi said on French radio Europe 1. "All of them have clean hands," he said.

Also on Tuesday, thousands of protesters put the new government under pressure Tuesday with activists rejecting the leadership.
Protesters chanted: "We can live on bread and water alone but not with the RCD," a reference to the former ruling party.

Police also broke up another rally in Tunis amid growing opposition to the government line-up. All public assemblies are officially banned under the rules of a state of emergency declared shortly before disgraced president Ben Ali resigned and fled on Friday.
Thousands more protested in the cities of Sfax and Sidi Bouzid -- the city where a wave of social protests against the Ben Ali regime started last month after a 26-year-old vendor set himself on fire in a protest against police.

TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT
While he was announcing the new cabinet on Monday, Ghannouchi named Najib Chebbi, founder of the PDP, which opposed Ben Ali, as minister for regional development.
Ahmed Ibrahim, leader of the Ettajdid party, was named minister of higher education and Mustafa Ben Jaafar, head of the Union of Freedom and Labour, got the health portfolio.

Ghannouchi also said that exiled opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, who is not a relative of the prime minister, would only be able to return to the North African state from Britain once an amnesty law had been approved.

The popular leader was sentenced to life in prison under the old regime for “plotting against the state.”
The PM also promised parliamentary and presidential elections within six months on Monday, and announced complete media freedom and the release of all political prisoners.