Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Tunisia, amid rising unrest, has nominated technocrats for
defense minister and other major security posts.

Tunisia’s ruling Ennahda has named non-Islamists for the post of defense
minister, foreign minister and interior minister. Officials said the
appointments reflected the growing opposition against Ennahda, aligned with
the Muslim Brotherhood.

“Although it retained its same partisan formation, the government
includes several independent figures,” Prime Minister-designate Ali Larayedh said.

The new government, announced on March 8, includes Rachid Sabbagh as defense minister. Officials said Sabbagh, a judge, was not linked to Ennahda or any other political movement.

Officials said Sabbagh would focus on border security amid efforts by Al
Qaida to establish cells in Tunisia. They said the new defense minister
would also oversee procurement for the military as well as exercises with
Western and Arab allies.

Other appointments of independents included Lotfi Ben Jeddou — also a judge — as interior minister, and Othman Jarandi as foreign minister.
Larayedh said the new Cabinet would remain until parliamentary elections in late 2013.

“Tunisia today needs to save time and needs work and discipline as much
as it needs a strong national unity and a general awareness of the country’s
capacities and the stages it is going through,” Larayedh said.

  Ali Larayedh, Ennahda, Lofti Ben Jeddou, Othman Jarandi, Rachid Sabbagh, Tunisian government appoints non-Islamists as opposition to Brotherhood grows