Tunisia removes central bank governor in a limited reshuffle

The Tunisian government said that the Tunisian President Zein al-Abidin Bin Ali removed the governor of the Central bank, Muhammad Ali al-Dawas, and appointed the minister of finance, Tawfiq Bakkar as his successor.

Wednesday's statement said that the state secretary at the finance ministry, Munir Jeidan, was appointed as a minister of finance, in a limited ministerial reshuffle, in which Abdullah Kaabi assumed the ministry of sport, in succession of Abdul Rahim al-Zuwari, who has become the minister of tourism and traditional industries.

The government gave no reason for the amendment, but political sources reported that al-Dous was removed from his post after the Central Bank in 2003 issued a detailed list on the level of debts of senior businessmen.

A high ranking political source asked to be anonymous said that al-Dawas's fate was decided since the issuance of the list, which angered influential businessmen linked to strong ties with higher circles in the government.

Al-Kaabi previously held the post of the minister of the interior. He also presided over the social and economic council which is run by the government before he returned back to the Cabinet as a sports minister, just ten days before Tunisia's hosting of finals of the African nations Cup.

Munzir al-Zanayedi, who was the minister of tourism, traditional industries and trade, becomes the minister of trade in the new reshuffle after the ministry was divided into two.