TUNIS: Tunisia’s prime minister says he will present the country with a new apolitical government by Saturday or hand in his resignation.

Speaking on Thursday about the political crisis for the first time in days, Hamadi Jebali said he will meet with representatives of all political parties on Friday, seeking to gain their acceptance for his proposal.

Jebali’s initiative to see the country out of a political crisis has been exacerbated by the assassination of a leftist politician last week.

His proposal has been welcomed by the opposition, but not his own political party.

Jebali’s moderate Islamist Ennahda Party, together with its secular Congress for the Republic coalition partner, have insisted on continuing with a government of political figures.