Tunisia to shake up cabinet as US presses for vote

But a source close to the government said that talks over the possible replacement of the defence,foreign and interior ministers were “blocked”.

The source,speaking on condition of anonymity,said five ministerial posts left vacant by earlier resignations would be filled by independent figures.

US Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman meanwhile met senior officials and opposition figures during a visit to Tunis — the first by a senior foreign official since the fall of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. “I certainly expect that we’ll be using the Tunisian example” in talks with other Arab governments,Feltman told reporters,as thousands of people also took to the streets in Egypt calling for a Tunisia-style protest movement.

Three people were killed in Cairo and Suez during the biggest protests since riots over bread subsidies shook the Arab world’s most populous nation in 1977.

Riot police fired tear gas and protesters were seen throwing rocks in Cairo.

Feltman said the “challenges” that helped bring about Tunisia’s uprising were the same as in other parts of the Arab world,adding: “We hope people will be addressing these legitimate political,social,economic grievances particularly when they’re expressed through legal,peaceful means.”

He also said elections would give Tunisia’s new government “credibility”.