20110120
xinhua
TUNIS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Violence-hit Tunisia Wednesday saw peaceful protests in its capital, with hundreds chanting national anthem and displaying cartoons to demand the ruling RCD party be out of the unity government, while no clashes were reported.

An excited crowd gathered at one end of the Habib Bourguiba Avenue, shouting "RCD out," and "Freedom," to urge the banning of toppled President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's ruling RCD party whose members still hold key positions in the new-born interim national unity government.

Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi Monday went on state TV to announce a list of an interim government, with former foreign, interior and defense ministers to keep their jobs and several opposition figures to enter the cabinet.

The formation of the government, aimed to satisfy the Tunisians who have been protesting for weeks against soaring prices, unemployment and corruption, reflected not big enough a progress for a nation that experienced dramatic change as the 23 years iron- fisted ruling of the president ended.

Xinhua reporters saw protesting people clasped their hands and flew colorful balloons, which shows the demonstration is a peaceful one.

"All the dirty people of the RCD must be plucked out of the government," said Moncef, a middle aged protester, referring to the corruption of the ruling party.

"RCD has been the root of the current power system, which, if remain in place, nothing will change," he said.

To ease the people's anger with RCD's involvement in the government, Tunisian interim president Foued Mebazaa and Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi announced on Tuesday they quitted the party described by oppositions as synonymous with the ousted president, in a bid to "split the state from the party."

"It's not enough," protesters told Xinhua, calling the move of the two leaders "a show before the public."

At the demonstration site, lines of security forces stand still, blocking access to the Habib Bourguiba Avenue where the headquarters of the Interior Ministry is located. No clashes between the demonstrators and the troops were reported, and people even laid flower bouquets on tanks and armor cars to thank the full-armed troops for guarding their security.

The now-peaceful security forces on Tuesday had fired incendiary bombs, smoke grenade and tear gas at thousands of protesters flooding the streets of downtown Tunis. Columns of thick smoke was seen and occasional clashes were reported.

Meanwhile, calm was largely restored in Tunis which saw weeks of violent protests.

The downtown of Tunis is alive with commercial activities, with vendors selling bread at the corners and open-air cafes back to street. Reporters saw cheerful groups of people posed for photograph before tanks and chat with soldiers.

As a result, the interim government Wednesday announced on state TV to shorten the curfew by two hours. The current curfew is from 8:00 p.m to 5:00 a.m local time, while the previous one starting at 6:00 p.m. and ending at 5: 00 a.m..

The relative calm was a good news for Khaced Ghrab, who has closed his shoe shop at the city center for a whole week to fend off looting. Khaced said he decided to open the shop tomorrow, given the current peace.

"The situation now is good, unlike days ago when it was even hard to buy food and drink," he told reporters, however, he was happy with the protests that threw away the president, saying all the loss of money and inconvenience in life were a price to pay for freedom.