Tunis unrest ousts president

His departure came as anger over soaring unemployment and alleged corruption spilled onto the streets.

Thousands of demonstrators thronged the capital, Tunis, yesterday to demand Mr Ben Ali quit office, the culmination of weeks of protests.

Violent clashes were reported to be spreading last night. Almost 2,000 British holidaymakers in the country were flown out for their own safety.

Some passengers arriving back in the UK said they witnessed distressing scenes, with crowds roaming the streets, smashing shop windows and looting.

Travel company Thomas Cook suspended its Tunisia programme and said it was evacuating 1,800 holidaymakers from the North African country.

Six flights brought the tourists home, with four flying into Manchester and two to Gatwick.

Jim Thompson, 76, from East Kilbride, was ten days into his break in Hammamet with his wife Eleanor, 71, when they were forced to abandon their holiday.

Mr Thompson, a retired technical author, said: "There were crowds running up the streets, smashing windows and looting.

"I saw a big shop window broken and people were coming out with loads of shoes. It was horrible. I was panicked."

Prime minister Mohammed Ghannouchi later appeared on state television to announce he was assuming power.

The change at the top is certain to have repercussions in the Arab world and beyond - as a sign that massive public outrage can bring down a leader as entrenched as Mr Ben Ali.

The president tried vainly to hold onto power amid yesterday's riots, declaring a state of emergency, dissolving the government and promising new legislative elections within six months. A day earlier, he had promised not to run for re-election in 2014 and also slashed prices on key foods such as sugar, bread and milk.

Yet yesterday saw the largest demonstrations in generations. Officials reported 13 people died in clashes that began on Thursday night.

Police repeatedly clashed with protesters, some of whom climbed the walls of the Interior Ministry, said to be the site of torture down the years.

Clouds of teargas and black smoke hung over the city's whitewashed buildings.

"I take over the responsibilities temporarily of the leadership of the country at this difficult time to help return security," Mr Ghannouchi said in a statement."I promise that when I take this responsibility, to respect the Constitution and work on reform of economic and social issues with care and to consult with all the sides."

Mr Ben Ali, 74, came to power in a bloodless coup in 1987, taking over from a man offficially styled president-for-life, Habib Bourguiba, the founder of modern-day Tunisia. It was Mr Bourguiba who set the Muslim country on a pro-Western course after independence from France in 1956.

Mr Ben Ali removed him from office by claiming he had become too old, senile and sick to rule. He then promised that his leadership would "open the horizons to a truly democratic and evolved political life".

The Foreign Office last night advised against all but essential travel to Tunisia.

Thomas Cook said it had cancelled its flights to Tunisia due to leave tomorrow and was "reviewing the situation" for flights planned for next Wednesday.

Holiday companies First Choice and Thomson said they had cancelled all excursions due in Tunisia today and had also cancelled the Thomson Airways' flights due to leave for Tunisia tomorrow. But they said they were only bringing home customers who wished to leave.Other flights are under review.