Tunisia's Government Suspends Former Ruling Party

The party of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has been suspended

Tunisia's interior minister has suspended all activities of the country's former ruling party of deposed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

A statement carried by the official TAP news agency said Fahrat Rajhi also intended to seek the dissolution of the party, the Democratic Constitutional Rally.

TAP says the measure was taken because of the "extreme urgency" of the situation.

A caretaker government has been running the North African country since Ben Ali was forced into exile on January 14 after 23 years in power.

But tensions remain high, with protesters calling for the removal of old-regime officials.

The February 6 announcement came hours after crowds pillaged and burned a police station in the northwestern city of Kef a day after police shot and killed at least two demonstrators.

In the southern town of Kebili, one person died overnight after he was hit by a tear gas canister during clashes with security forces.