Tunis — The Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises (CONECT), the Tunisian General Confederation of Labour (CGTT), the Union of Workers of Tunisia (UTT) and the Union of Farmers of Tunisia (SYNAGRI), Thursday, expressed "their support in principle for the initiative to form a government of technocrats taken by Interim Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali last February 6.

They consider in a joint statement published Thursday that "the seriousness of the current situation and the threats we are exposed to should encourage all Tunisians, whatever their political or ideological affiliations to adopt a citizen and responsible attitude so as to spare the country confusion, disorder and insecurity which threaten its social cohesion and jeopardise the continuity of the state."

"The initiative to form a government of technocrats cannot however succeed without a broad consultation of the country's active forces. The next government has to be a mini government and the future ministers should be independent and impartial in managing public affairs," adds the statement.

"The mission of the government should be limited in time with a maximum period of nine months and should allow completing and adopting a new constitution and leading the country towards free and fair elections to ensure the stability of institutions."

The organisations also indicated that "the essential task of this government is to restore confidence at all levels, fight against violence, particularly by dissolving the so-called leagues for protection of the revolution, establish security and rule of law and get the country back to work."