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August 18: Address by the Tunisian interim Prime Minister, Mr. Béji Caïd Essebsi, at the Tunis Convention Center. Tunisian Prime Minister Béji Caïd Essebsi assured the nation on Thursday that his government was doing “the impossible” to successfully complete the transition and lead the country to elections, in a speech to the nation delivered at the Tunis Convention Center. “We have done the impossible,” Mr. Caïd Essebsi declared in a 40-minute speech—delivered in the form of a plea—before some 250 political figures and representatives of civil society. “The government is fulfilling its responsibilities despite the difficulties,” added the Prime Minister, referring to a “very difficult” economic and social situation and affirming that he hears “the people’s demands.” “Our fundamental goal is to hold the Constituent Assembly election on October 23 and to organize a free and transparent vote. If we do not succeed, our government will have failed, and the revolution will have failed,” declared the prime minister, who faces growing opposition. Mr. Caïd Essebsi’s transitional government has been leading the country since late February, following the fall of President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali’s regime, which was ousted from power on January 14 by a popular uprising.

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