Tunisia's fledgling interim government struggled to remain afloat Wednesday as demonstrators again took to the streets of Tunis calling for its ouster. Hundreds of angry Tunisians protested for a sixth straight day in downtown Tunis, demanding all members of the old ruling establishment out of politics altogether.

The revolution in Tunisia has given the world the most positive start to the new year since the people of Romania shot their dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu, at the end of 1989 (Popular revolt in Tunisia forces president to flee, 15 January).

A legitimate one: Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, re-elected in 2009 with 89.4% of the vote; an illegitimate one: Mohammed Ghannouchi, who took on the job on Friday even though the decision to do so contravened the Tunisian constitution; and now an interim one: Foued Mebazza, who as Speaker of the Tunisian parliament should have been given the job as soon as Mr Ben Ali was removed from office.

Tunisia's highest constitutional body has appointed the head of the lower house of parliament as temporary head of the North African country, after massive protests drove longstanding leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from the country.A day after massive protests and riots toppled Tunisia's authoritarian president, Tunisians ventured into the streets of the capital to survey the damage and digest the historic events. Riot police and army tanks were out in force and helicopters flew overhead.