Tunisia cabinet meets amid protest (VIDEO)

Tunisia's new interim government has held its first cabinet meeting since the ouster of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, amid an outcry over its inclusion of members of the regime of the deposed president.

All ministers of the transitional government attended the inaugural session on Thursday except five who resigned earlier this week unhappy at the inclusion of members of the former ruling party, the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD).

The cabinet, led by interim president Foued Mebazaa, is tasked with preparing presidential and parliamentary elections within six months, following the ouster of Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia last Friday following weeks of popular unrest.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters gathered Thursday outside the RCD headquarters in the capital, Tunis, demanding that ministers associated with the rule of Ben Ali leave the government. Troops fired warning shots to deter demonstrators from climbing over walls and forcing their way into the offices previously guarded by army tanks.

Dozens have died in a month of clashes that were initially between police and protesters angry about repression, corruption, high unemployment and basic living conditions, but now appear to be between police and Ben Ali loyalists.

And for the first time since the fall of Ben Ali, protests were reported in other towns across Tunisia.

Meanwhile, European Union governments agreed Thursday to freeze the assets of Ben Ali, according to reports.

Diplomats discussed the measure in Brussels as Tunisian authorities moved to arrest 33 members of Ben Ali's family on charges relating to their accumulation of a large chunk of the country's wealth. State TV showed footage of luxury watches, jewelery and credit cards seized in raids on their homes.

Charges of corruption and revelations of the Ben Ali family's lavish lifestyle over the 23 years of his presidency has fueled the anger of protesters.

Authorities had opened an investigation against the family for plundering the nation's resources through shady dealings including illegal property acquisitions and currency transfers. Those targeted included Ben Ali, his wife Leila Trabelsi, her brothers and their children, according to an official source quoted by the broadcaster. 

Agence France-Presse reported that the main items on the agenda for Thursday's cabinet meeting were a separation between the state and the ruling party and a general amnesty.