PARIS (Updated 4) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has refused to give Tunisia's ex-President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali permission to enter France, French media said, Reuters reported citing government sources. French police have been told to await the arrival of Tunisian President Ben Ali at an airport near Paris late on Friday, a police source said. Embattled President Zine El Abdine Ben Ali Friday left the volatile country for France through Malta amid the worst unrest in the country.. Ali was variously reported to be in Malta, France and Saudi Arabia at the end of an extraordinary day which had seen the declaration of a state of emergency, the evacuation of tourists of British and other nationalities, and an earthquake for the authoritarian politics of the Middle East and north Africa. Tunisia's Prime Mnister announced that he has taken over the running of his country's embattled government, the latest development in a fast-moving story of unrest and public outrage in this North African country. Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi announced Friday on Tunisian state TV that he has taken over the responsibility of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali -- who has ruled the nation since 1987, according to CNN. "I call on the sons and daughters of Tunisia, of all political and intellectual persuasions, to unite to allow our beloved country to overcome this difficult period and to return to stability," Ghannouchi said. But there was confusion among protesters about what will happen next, and concern that Ben Ali might return before elections could be held. "We must remain vigilant," warned an email from the Free Tunis group, monitoring developments to circumvent an official news blackout This comes amid media reports that the long-time leader of the country has left the country as protesters outraged over poor living conditions and repression of rights denounced corruption in the government and urged that he leave the office. Earlier on Friday, Ben Ali has dissolved the government and declared a state of emergency, state TV reported. He also called for parliamentary elections within six months, and the government sacking comes days after the president dumped the interior minister and fired a couple of aides. Ben Ali made the moves in reaction to the instability ripping through the North African country.announcing concessions on Thursday to meet some grievances the day before in a nationally televised TV address. Officials said the reason for the emergency declaration is to protect Tunisians and their private property. People are not allowed on the street from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. And early Friday evening, the streets in the capital, Tunis, were quiet. As part of the emergency, people in gatherings of three or more will be arrested or they will be fired on if they try to run away and can't be stopped. Earlier Friday, police, wielding batons and firing tear gas, dispersed demonstrators, a show of force that aggravated a peaceful gathering in the capital. Security forces were seen brutally beating protesters, and the demonstrators fled amid the security show of force. Fires were seen in the center of Tunis and downtown, and smoke was coming from a couple of locations. The unrest underscores concerns among Tunisians and in the international community that security forces have been badly overreacting to peaceful gatherings The United States, France, and Britain have issued travel advisories, strongly warning against non-essential visits, and a tourism company announced the evacuation of 2,000 German vacationers.
