Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali announced his resignation on Tuesday after failing to reach agreement on forming a new government

Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali announced his resignation on Tuesday after failing to reach agreement on forming a new government.

Jebali made the announcement following a meeting with President Moncef Marzouki.

The assassination of opposition leader Chokri Belaid on Feb. 6 has plunged the country into turmoil and unleashed days of unrest.

Jebali had been trying to form a new coalition in response to the political crisis but his Islamist Ennahda party did not back his plan for a cabinet of technocrats.

"I vowed that if my initiative did not succeed, I would resign and I have done so," Jebali told a news conference.

Describing his step as "a big disappointment", he said he was standing down to "fulfil a promise made to the people." "Our people are disillusioned by the political class. We must restore confidence," he stressed.