Mohamed Ghannouchi has resigned as Prime Minister in Tunisia following further clashes between police and protestors.

“I am not willing to be a person that takes decisions that would end up causing casualties,” said Ghannouchi in a televised resignation speech on 27 February.

The announcement followed the death of three more protesters on 26 February during demonstrations in the capital Tunis.

The interim president, Fouad Mebazaa, has appointed former foreign minister Beji Caid-Essebsi to replace Ghannouchi as prime minister of the post-revolution government.

The interim government was formed after former president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali was forced to flee the country on 14 January. Ben Ali had ruled Tunisia for 23 years.

The series of events that led to Ben Ali’s overthrow started on 17 December, when a protester set himself on fire to highlight the lack of jobs and economic opportunities in the country.

Mebazaa was appointed as interim president on 15 January.