Tunisia’s President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has stepped down after 23 years in power, amid widespread protests on the streets of the capital Tunis.
In a televised address, Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi said he would be taking over.
A state of emergency was declared earlier, as rumbling nationwide protests over economic woes snowballed into anti-government demonstrations.
Unconfirmed reports say Mr Ben Ali has left the country.
