Minister resignation blow to Tunisian government

Tunisia's Minister of Administrative Reform, Mohamed Abbou, has resigned in protest against “the Prime Minister's capture of his powers”, signifying further cracks in Tunisia's Islamist-led coalition government. Abbou, who is the Secretary General of the centre-left secular Congress for the Republic Party (CPR) said in a press conference: “The main reason behind my resignation is that the government refused to assume the role of the observer in administration, and refused reform...the Tunisian administration needs change as it is very corrupt.” Abbou, whose party is led by Tunisia's President Moncef Marzouki, is a renowned human rights activist known for his opposition to ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Abbo added that Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali, who leads the Islamist Ennahda party and which holds majority in the coalition government, did not grant him the required powers to execute reforms, saying he was unable to fight corruption. The resignation is sure to worsen internal differences in the coalition, after President Marzouki protested against the extradition of Baghdadid Mahmoudi, slain Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi's last premier, to Libya. President Marzouki, also a staunch human rights activist, was opposed to the extradition because Libya "does not yet have a free and fair justice system", and said he was not informed of the transfer. The Islamist government is facing considerable pressure after 73 opponents had requested a no-confidence motion be passed against it on the wake of Mahmoudi's handover to Libya, signalling a major political crisis.  The opposition accused Ennahda of seeking to have hegemony over powers of the state and leaving only a marginal role for their partners. Ennahda officials deny the accusations, saying the movement was exposed to continuous attacks that aim at toppling the government.