Tunisian foreign minister resigns: state media

Tunis, Jan 27 (AFP) Tunisian Foreign Minister KamelMorjane has resigned his post in the interim unity governmentamid tense consultations over a cabinet reshuffle, the statenews agency TAP reported today.

"I have decided to renounce my functions of foreignminister and I wish success to those who will take part in thegovernment during this period of transition," Morjane wasquoted as saying in a written statement.

US-educated Morjane was discredited because of hisfamily links to ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali andhas been a leading member of the Constitutional DemocraticRally party, which has dominated Tunisia for decades.

He was one of the eight ministers including PrimeMinister Mohammed Ghannouchi from Ben Ali''s last governmentwho stayed on in the new interim government after Ben Aliresigned and fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14.

Morjane reportedly said his resignation was "in theinterests of Tunisia and in support of the actions of thenational unity government in leading the country to a stablefuture and so that the popular revolution can bear fruit."(AFP)