PM Mohamed Ghannouchi announced that he has taken over the responsibilities of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled the nation since 1987. 

"Based on constitution law No. 56, if the president of the republic cannot fulfill his duties, there will be an interim decision to move his executive powers to the PM. Considering the fact that at the current time he (Ben Ali) cannot fulfill his duties, I take over today, the powers of the president of the republic", he said. 

He pledged to respect the constitution and to carry out the political, economic and social reforms announced this week by Ben Ali, who left the country on January 14. 

Early January 15, a senior Saudi interior ministry official said the plane carrying Ben Ali had landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

Ben Ali's departure follows widespread outrage over poor living conditions and repression of rights in recent weeks. Protesters who have held daily demonstrations denounced corruption in the Ben Ali government and had urged that he step down. 

On January 14, he dissolved the government and declared a state of emergency, state TV reported. He also called for parliamentary elections to be held within six months. The moves came days after he dumped the interior minister and fired a couple of aides.