Gunbattles, unrest, shortages rock Tunisia

TUNIS, Tunisia - Gun battles erupted outside the palace of the deposed president, in the center of the capital, in front of the main opposition party headquarters and elsewhere yesterday as authorities struggled to restore order and the world waited to see whether the North African nation would continue its first steps away from autocratic rule.

Police arrested dozens of people, including the top presidential security chief, as tensions appeared to mount between Tunisians buoyant over Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's departure and loyalists in danger of losing major perks.

There were cheers and smiles in much of Tunis as residents tore down the massive portraits of Ben Ali, some of them several stories high, that hung from lampposts and billboards and were omnipresent during his 23-year reign.

Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi said on state TV that a new national unity government would "most certainly" be announced today. There are three legal opposition parties that could be included in the government Ghannouchi has been directed to form by the interim president, Fouad Mebazaa.

Worries among Tunisians, however, grew with the violence and worsening shortages of essentials such as milk, bread and fresh fish.

"We're starting to feel it now," said Imed Jaound at the Tunis port, which has been closed since Friday, when Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia.

In Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton phoned Foreign Minister Kamal Merjan to offer U.S. support as Tunisia transitions from autocratic rule. - AP