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Arab League chief Amr Mussa warned Arab leaders Wednesday that the hardships of ordinary Tunisians that have sparked a popular uprising are linked to "unprecedented anger" in the region. Mussa was addressing an economic summit of Arab leaders in Egypt's resort of Sharm el-Sheikh that closed with a vow to "move forward in the development of our societies in terms of human development, technology, economy and society." "The developmental challenges are no less important than the political challenges facing the region," the leaders said in a final statement after their one-day summit, according to AFP. This is the first meeting of Arab heads of state since Tunisian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was forced out of the country Friday after weeks of protests sparked by the self-immolation of an unemployed man. "The revolution that happened in Tunisia is not far from the subject of this summit," Mussa said amid fears of a spillover. "The Arab soul is broken by poverty, unemployment and general recession. ... The political problems, the majority of which have not been fixed ... have driven the Arab citizen to a state of unprecedented anger and frustration." Tunisian Foreign Minister Kamel Morjane left Egypt Wednesday before the start of the summit that he was due to attend, AFP reported, but no reason was given for his departure. Tunisia's national unity cabinet was due to hold its first meeting Wednesday, with caretaker Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi under pressure from opposition leaders who are up in arms over cabinet positions being given to loyalists of the former president. Hundreds of Tunisians rallied again Wednesday against their new government. "We want a new parliament, a new constitution, a new republic! People rise up against the Ben Ali loyalists!" they chanted at the peaceful demonstration, according to AFP. In an indication of the new government's desire to break with the past, the ruling RCD party canceled the party membership of Ben Ali, ex-presidential adviser Abd Elwahab Abdallah, Ben Ali's son-in-law Sakher Materi and brother-in-law Belhassen Trebelsi, Tunisian state television reported, Reuters reported. The tree-lined Avenue Bourguiba, in the center of the capital, was re-opened to traffic for the first time in several days. |
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