Tunisian PM-designate unveils lineup of new cabinet

Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Jemli

TUNIS, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Jemli announced on Thursday the lineup of his government that will be submitted to the parliament for approval.

The new cabinet is composed of 42 members, including 25 ministers, three ministers to the prime minister, and 14 secretaries of state.

Imed Derouiche will be the defense minister, Sofiene Sliti, the interior minister, Khaled Sehili, the foreign minister, and Abderrahmen Khachtali, the finance minister.

Jemli, designated prime minister by the Islamist party Ennahdha, said that he was "confident" that this cabinet lineup would be approved by the parliament.

Ennahdha won the right to form a government after garnering 52 seats of the 217-member parliament in the legislative elections on Oct. 6 to become the leading party.

Jemli pledged earlier to form a government of independents to overcome the frictions among different parties over the lineup of the new government.