Tunisia president appoints Islamist prime minister

TUNIS - The Associated Press

Tunisia's new Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali arrives to the constituent assembly on December 1, 2011 in Tunis. AFP photo

Tunisia's new president has asked the secretary general of the Islamist party that dominated last month's elections to form the next government.

Hamadi Jebali has three weeks to form the next interim government but he is expected to present it as soon as the end of the week because of the pressing problems the country faces.

Tunisians overthrew their long-ruling dictator in January, sparking pro-democracy protests across the Arab world.

A long-repressed moderate Islamist party then won the most seats in October's election for an assembly to form an interim government and write the new constitution.

Ennahda has formed a ruling coalition with the liberal Congress for the Republic and the left-of-center Ettakatol, or Forum Party.

The assembly elected veteran rights activist Moncef Marzouki president.