The prime minister, foreign, interior and defence ministers are to retain their jobs, with several opposition figures joining the government.

PM Mohammed Ghannouchi pledged to allow greater political and media freedoms.

Later the government said 78 people had been killed in recent violence, the highest official figure so far.

Dozens of people were known to have died, but the government had previously announced lower figures than those alleged by human rights organisations.

Unveiling the new government, Mr Ghannouchi said all political parties would now be allowed to operate in Tunisia.

The announcement of the new government included a pledge to abolish Tunisia's information ministry and to create a state where the media had "total freedom".