The new government meets heavy criticism over the presence of old figures regime in powerful posts.

Tunisia’s so-called national unity government is set to hold its first meeting on Thursday amid row and protests over the presence of old figures regime in powerful posts.

"It will be tomorrow morning," said Nejib Chebbi, a minister from the former opposition PDP party and new regional development minister Nejib Chebbi said.
But a spokesman for Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi said: "For the moment, we haven't fixed a date for the meeting."

Another opposition source said: "The most important and urgent item on the agenda is to draw up a national amnesty law."
"The second point is to implement decisions to separate the RCD from the state," the source added, referring to the ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s Constitutional Democratic Rally party.

Ghannouchi announced on Monday that the party would be separated from the state.

NEW GOVERNEMET IN TROUBLE
The new government meets heavy criticism over the presence of old figures regime in powerful posts.
On Tuesday, four ministers quit the government in protest at the domination of CDR party.
Two ministers and a junior minister from the General Union of Tunisian Workers (UGTT) withdrew from the cabinet, saying they wanted to see all members of the former government dismissed, with the exception of Ghannouchi.

"This is in response to the demands of people on the streets," union organizer Abid al-Briki told reporters.
The Health Minister, Mustapha Ben Jaafar of the opposition FDLT party, also said he would not take up his position until key posts were not occupied by those associated with Mr Ben Ali's rule.

In response, Interim President Fouad Mebazaa and Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi resigned from the RCD.
But the opposition ministers said the move had not allayed their concerns.

Ben Ali Fled the country to the Saudi Arabia last Friday after mass protests over unemployment and food prices. A new cabinet was unveiled on Monday, but with eight ministers, including the PM, interior, defense, foreigner and finance stayed on from the previous government.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, hundreds of people protested in the centre of Tunis, calling for the government to resign and for the abolition of the RCD.

"Ben Ali has gone to Saudi Arabia! The government should go there too," the protesters chanted, referring to former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who resigned abruptly and fled on Friday after 23 years of iron-fisted rule.
Some of the 400 protesters waved placards reading: "Down with the RCD!"

"We want a new parliament, a new constitution, a new republic! People rise up," they chanted.
Riot police stood guard at the demonstration in the central Avenue Bourguiba -- the scene of a mass protest by thousands of people on Friday that led to Ben Ali's ouster and far smaller demos on Tuesday that were broken up by police.