The composition of a new Tunisian government will be announced Monday and will not include any parties close to disgraced former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, an opposition leader said.

“The composition of the new government will be announced tomorrow morning,” Maya Jribi, secretary general of the opposition Progressive Democratic Party, told AFP after talks with Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi on Sunday.

Ghannouchi met the leaders of the main opposition parties in Tunis.

“There has been a consensus decision to exclude the pro-governmental parties,” said Jribi.

“The new government will be composed of representatives of the Ettajdid (Renewal) movement, the PDP, the Democratic Front for Labour and Freedoms (FDTL) as well as independent figures,” he said.

Clinton calls Tunisian Foreign Minister

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Tunisian Foreign Minister Kamel Morjane and express support for the people of Tunisia as they and their government go through a period of significant transition.

She asked that the Tunisian Government to work to re-establish order in the country in a responsible manner as quickly as possible, a State Department statement said.

She also underscored the importance of addressing popular concerns about the lack of civil liberties and economic opportunities, and the need to move forward with credible democratic elections.

Clinton noted that the United States is encouraged by recent remarks by the Prime Minister Ghannouchi and Interim President Mabazza indicating a willingness to work with Tunisians across the political spectrum and within civil society to build a truly representative government.

She offered the assistance of the US in helping Tunisians to meet these challenges, and assured the Foreign Minister that the US will stand with Tunisia as it moves forward to address them.