Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki held an emergency meeting with key party leaders on Wednesday to seek a new Prime Minister to lead the nation out of its escalating political crisis. The meeting immediately followed Hamadi Jebali’s resignation on Tuesday for his failure to form a technocrat government to end the political crisis. Health Minister Abdelatif Mekki and Justice Minister Moureddine Bhiri were nominated for Prime Minister.

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki (R) speaks with Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali as they meet in Tunis February 19, 2013. Jebali resigned on Tuesday after his attempt to form a government of technocrats and end a political crisis failed. (Photo: Reuters)

Tunisia is undergoing its most serious political chaos since the wave of protest that ousted former President Ben Ali last year. A frantic protest movement was triggered when opposition leader Chokri Belaid of the Democratic Patriotic Party (DPP) of Tunisia was shot dead at his home early this month. No individual or organization has yet claimed responsibility for the assassination. Jebali’s administration is accused of an inability to resolve conflicts with religious extremists who are threatening Tunisia’s stability.