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Tunisia's President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has stepped down and fled away to Saudi Arabia amid widespread protests on the streets of the capital Tunis of the country on Friday January 14, 2011.  Thousands of people had been staging demonstrations against the President of the North-African country protesting economic crises, higher unemployment rate, and  food and fuel prices upsurge, sources said. However, Mr. Ben Ali had to leave the power after 23 years in power in a state of emergency in the country in the face month-long protest. He took shelter in Saudi Arabia with his whole family after France defied to give shelter for Mr. Ali.  Mr. Ali took all out ways to keep hold of power. He also smashed his cabinet earlier to restore law and order situation in the country and tried to reconcile with the protesters.    In a televised address, Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi said he would be taking over. A state of emergency was declared earlier, as rumbling nationwide protes

A fire has swept through a prison in the Tunisian resort town of Monastir , killing at least 42 people amid continuing unrest following the removal of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Looting hit the suburbs of the capital Tunis after he fled the country on Friday.  Troops are now patrolling the city centre and a state of emergency is in force. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has said his priority is restoring order. Mr Ghannouchi also said he would hold talks with opposition parties. A doctor at Monastir hospital told the BBC it had received 42 bodies so far following the prison fire. The identities of the victims and the cause of the fire are still unclear. An eyewitness in the city, about 160km (100 miles) south of Tunis, told Reuters news agency: "The whole prison is on fire, the furniture, mattresses, everything." In Tunis the main thoroughfare, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, was blocked by security forces after an overnight curfew was lifted. Troops and tanks are