Gunmen fired at random from cars in Tunis on Saturday and inmates staged a mass jailbreak while leaders tried to map out Tunisia's political future after the president was swept from power. The speaker of parliament, Fouad Mebazza, was sworn in as interim president.
He asked Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi to form a coalition government and the constitutional authorities said a presidential election should be held within 60 days. It was not clear who the assailants were but a senior military source told Reuters that people affiliated to former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali were behind the shootings.
Soldiers and tanks were stationed in the centre of Tunis to try to restore order after a night of looting after Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia following a month of violent anti-government protests that claimed dozens of lives. In a sign that Ben Ali's rule was over, workers were taking down a portrait of the former president outside the headquarters of his RCD party on Mohamed V Avenue in the centre of Tunis.
"We are very happy to be free after 23 years of prison," said Fahmi Bouraoui, who was drinking coffee in the Mozart cafe, one of a few businesses that re-opened on Saturday morning. But his optimism could be short-lived as parts of the country descended in to chaos.
Tunisian analyst Taoufik Ayachi said of the drive-by shootings, about 10 km from the city centre on Saturday and in another suburb on Friday night: "It is certain the presidential police are behind all this. They still hope to regain power."
Meanwhile, the Arab League called on Saturday for Tunisia's political forces and other groups to keep the peace and lead the North African country out of crisis after the president was swept from power amid widespread protests. The statement by the Cairo-based League was one of the first major Arab statements on developments in Tunisia.