A new coalition government in Tunisia is set to be announced after a deal was reached in last-minute talks.

A new coalition government in Tunisia is set to be announced after a deal was reached in last-minute talks.

Designated Prime Minister Ali  Larayedh said the agreement to form a government would be given a "final touch" before being presented to the president on Friday, AFP news agency reported.

Larayedh, who was an interior minister, added that the parties had reached an agreement on a political program for the new government that would guide its priorities, policies and commitments, President Moncef Marzouki's office said.

The president's office had earlier said that the new cabinet lineup would be unveiled by Larayedh late on Thursday. No reason was given for the delay.

Larayedh was tapped on February 22 to head a new government, with a two-week deadline to present his team and government program to Marzouki. The deadline runs out at midnight on Friday.

Ruling party, Ennahda, to which Larayedh aso belongs, has made a key concession in accepting that key ministries such as interior and justice be entrusted to independent candidates.

Tunisia has been in a political crisis since the February assassination of leftist politician Chokri Belaid, a vocal critic of the Islamist-led government.

Belaid's murder led to the resignation of prime minister Hamadi Jebali after he failed to forge a non-partisan government of technocrats when Ennahda refused to support his efforts.

If a cabinet is not named by Friday night, Marzouki must choose another politician to form a government.