Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt (ANTARA News/AFP) - Tunisia`s foreign minister will attend an Arab economic summit this week in Egypt to brief his counterparts on developments at home, Arab League deputy chief Ahmed Ben Helli said on Sunday.

"Tunisian Foreign Minister Kamel Morjane arrives tomorrow (Monday) or the day after tomorrow at the latest to attend the Arab economic summit and will brief his colleagues on the developments in his country," Ben Helli said.

The announcement came amid uncertainty about the status of the Tunisian government, which was sacked on Friday before president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia in the face of violent protests.

Tunisian opposition leader Maya Jribi said meanwhile that the composition of a new Tunisian government would be announced on Monday and would not include any parties close to Ben Ali.

"There has been a consensus decision to exclude the pro-governmental parties," Jribi, secretary general of the opposition Progressive Democratic Party, told AFP after talks in Tunis with Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi.

Tunisian authorities on Sunday denounced a plot against the state by Ben Ali`s backers as talks on forming a national unity government got under way while heavy gunfire broke out in the African nation`s capital.

Asked by reporters if the Arab economic summit would address developments in Tunisia, Ben Helli said: "This issue will be discussed in addition to the situation in Sudan, Palestine and Lebanon.

"This is an economic summit and the agenda in essence is focussed on economic, social and development issues."

The summit will be held on Wednesday in Egypt`s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, after preparatory meetings on Monday and Tuesday by foreign ministers of the 22-member Arab League.

Previously, the Arab League said Ben Ali`s ouster was "historic," but many Arab governments have been cautious about the dramatic events in Tunisia -- the first ouster of a leader of the Arab world under pressure from street protests. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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