Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi resigned on Sunday and was replaced by Beji Caid Essebsi after protests left five people dead over the weekend.

Tunisia’s new coalition government hit trouble on Tuesday when four ministers quit and an opposition party threatened to walk out.

Tunisia Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi on Tuesday defended the country’s interim government, saying the retained ministers have "clean hands".

Tunisian soldiers fought loyalists of ousted strongman Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali near the presidential palace, police say.