Tunisian Opposition Calls on Ghannouchi to Resign

Tunisian President Kais Saied (dpa)
Tunisian President Kais Saied (dpa)
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Tunisian Opposition Calls on Ghannouchi to Resign

Tunisian President Kais Saied (dpa)
Tunisian President Kais Saied (dpa)

Tunisian MP of National Bloc Ayachi Zammel called on President Kais Saied and Speaker Rached Ghannouchi to make concessions to overcome the political crisis in the country.

Zammel urged the president to immediately launch a national political dialogue to discuss a new constitution or amend the current one and revise the electoral law.

He also asked Ghannouchi to step down for the best interest of Tunisia, saying it will serve his long political career, and save the country.

Meanwhile, the president of the Republican People's Union Party, Lotfi al-Maraih asserted the need for calm at the level of the three presidencies, warning that the situation cannot remain as such with a government that lacks a courageous vision to solve the social, economic, and health crisis.

Maraih indicated that the president is required to amend his positions, saying he should not take sides in his capacity as a party that unites all Tunisians.

The political parties are not aware of the seriousness of the current situation in Tunisia, according to Maraih.

Furthermore, the Head of Ennahda Shura Council, Abdelkarim Harouni, attacked the president, describing him as a “dictator in the making,” with the support of the parliament’s minority and foreign forces.

Harouni asserted that Ennahda defends the head of state, adding that the movement is not afraid of the president, but fears for him.

Earlier, the president refused to receive the new ministers for constitutional oath following the ministerial reshuffle made by Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi.

Harouni criticized Mechichi for not activating the ministerial reshuffle, which included the 11 ministers.

Mechichi is required to act upon his constitutional capacity and complete the remaining steps leading to the approval of ministers.



Canadian PM Urges Citizens to Leave Lebanon as Evacuations Top 1,000

Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon October 5, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon October 5, 2024. (Reuters)
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Canadian PM Urges Citizens to Leave Lebanon as Evacuations Top 1,000

Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon October 5, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon October 5, 2024. (Reuters)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadian citizens still in Lebanon on Saturday to sign up to be evacuated on special flights which have already helped more than 1,000 leave as security there deteriorates.

Canada has 6,000 signed up to leave and officials are trying to reach another 2,500 over the weekend, an official in Trudeau's office said, adding that more flights were being added for Monday and Tuesday.

"We've still got seats on airplanes organized by Canada. We encourage all Canadians to take seats on these airplanes and get out of Lebanon while they can," Trudeau said at a summit of leaders from French-speaking countries in France.

Canada has not been able to fill flights with its citizens and has offered seats to people from the Australia, New Zealand, the United States and some European countries, the official in his office said.

Israel has expanded its strikes on Lebanon in recent weeks after nearly a year of exchanging fire with Lebanon's Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Fighting had been mostly limited to the Israel-Lebanon border area, taking place in parallel to Israel's year-old war in Gaza against Hamas.

Trudeau said an immediate ceasefire from both Hezbollah and Israel was needed so the situation could be stabilized and United Nations resolutions could begin to be respected again.