20110125
reuters

TUNIS (Reuters) - Hundreds of Tunisians rallied on Tuesday in support of the interim government formed after the ousting of president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, but later clashed with protesters demanding a purge of former regime loyalists.

The government has struggled to assert itself in the face of street protests demanding more sweeping changes after Ben Ali's overthrow on January 14. Protesters want the removal of all senior figures from Ben Ali's RCD party and previous cabinets.

"RCD members need to get out little by little, but now this is a dictatorship of the people where is there is anarchy. We must little by little trust each other, we must listen to each other," said a doctor who gave his name as Labib.

Government supporters carried posters with slogans such as "Have patience, there is no magic wand", "The people support the government to save the revolution" and "We won our freedom, now we must prove to the world we deserve this revolution".

Scuffles and angry exchanges broke out as the two groups, numbering around 1,500 in total, clashed in the main Habib Bourguiba Avenue, grabbing each others posters and trying to tear them up.

"We are a rational people. We don't want this government and we will not stop saying it," said one infuriated woman who planned to continue protesting against the inclusion of former regime loyalists in the interim government.

"Do you really think the Tunisian people, who spent days

sleeping in the streets and marching in the streets to demand the government get out, will just change their mind?" she said.