TUNIS, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisian government has declared seven days of mourning following the death of its first democratically elected president on Thursday morning, as condolences poured in from several Arab countries.
In a hasty ceremony hours after the death of the 92-year-old President Beji Caid Essebsi, the head of parliament, Mohamed Ennaceur, was sworn in as interim president.
Ennaceur, 85, will lead the country until presidential elections are held in mid-September, the Independent Electoral Commission announced on Thursday.
The presidential vote was originally scheduled for Nov 17.
One of the world’s oldest leaders, Essebsi died at the Tunis military hospital, where he was taken the night before. It was the third time in recent weeks that he had been admitted to hospital.
His funeral has been planned for Saturday. — NNN-AGENCIES
