New Tunisian government could be announced Monday - CNN International

Tunis, Tunisia (CNN) -- A new Tunisian government could be announced Monday, one day after the country's army clashed with armed gangs and remnants of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's personal guard.

Tanks patrolled the streets of Tunis on Sunday, two days after enraged protesters caused Ben Ali to flee the country. Government troops appeared to be in control of the presidential palace in the seaside suburb of Carthage on Sunday evening, but sporadic gunfire continued around the neighborhood as night fell, said Mohamad Guiga, a nearby resident.

"It is a battle zone," Guiga told CNN by telephone from his home, about 1 kilometer (half a mile) from the palace. "From time to time, we hear some shooting," he said. The sound is very clear, he added.

On Sunday, the country's prime minister said a unity government would be formed soon.

Abdel Latif Abid, a human rights lawyer and an opposition party founder, said the new government was expected to be announced Monday, with three opposition leaders holding ministry posts.

Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on Friday after ruling the country for 23 years. His ouster followed weeks of protest over what Tunisians said were poor living conditions, high unemployment, government corruption and repression.

The demonstrations were triggered by the suicide of an unemployed college graduate, who set himself ablaze in December after police confiscated the fruit cart that was his source of income.

Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, who has been leading the government since Friday, said on Tunis TV Sunday night that a deal to form a new government -- with members of the opposition in the cabinet -- was near.

Among those Abid said would be joining the government was Mustapha Ben Jafar, who is expected to serve as health minister. Earlier, Jafar said opposition leaders don't want to be a fig leaf for the ruling party, but want an active role in running Tunisia after more than two decades of authoritarian rule.

"The most important thing for me is to build during this period the basis for a democratic Tunisia where all the citizens participate and where we can build a civic society -- this is what I spent 40 years of my life working for," Jafar said.

Meanwhile, police made more arrests Sunday, including looters and some of the deposed president's relatives. Imed Trabelsi, the nephew of the ousted president, was detained along with 23 other relatives, Tunis TV reported.

Troops also exchanged gunfire with armed gangs near the headquarters of an opposition party, Abid said. But Guiga said most Tunisians are happy with Ben Ali's ouster and have rallied to each other's aid since the uprising.

"We are proud of those people -- simple people, young people, normal people -- who take care of each other," Guiga said.

Human rights groups and unions have said more than 50 people were killed in the protests before Ben Ali fled. At least 42 more died when a blaze swept through a prison in the eastern city of Monastir, but the cause of the blaze had not been determined.

Meanwhile, Tunisians armed with sticks and knives have joined forces to guard their neighborhoods, stopping suspicious cars near their homes. Security forces did not have the manpower to guard the suburbs, they say.

Amid the unrest, at least three Swedish nationals who were returning from a hunting trip were taken into police custody and some others were unaccounted for, Cecilia Julin, a spokeswoman for Sweden's Foreign Office, told CNN. The group of 13 Swedes had been hunting wild boar. Their taxis were stopped while they were returning to their hotel in Tunis, Julin said.

And a French photojournalist died Sunday morning in Tunis, according to his uncle, who said Lucas Mebrouk Dolega "was dedicated to his career and he was always very brave."

"He was at the heart of major events happening around the world," Hamid Lhorri told CNN, though he did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding his nephew's death.

Fouad Mebazaa, a former parliament speaker, was named acting president Saturday. He promised to restore stability and respect the Constitution of the north African country. Tunisian state TV reported that officials plan to hold presidential elections in 60 days.

Restrictions on internet use, including filters on social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube, that were put in place under Ben Ali have been dropped, and the new government has vowed to ease restrictions on freedoms.

CNN's Ben Wedeman, Per Nyberg and Matt Smith contributed to this report.