Speaking on state television, Tunisian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi announced that he will step down Saturday.

Ghannouchi, 69, has been in power since January 14, when former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown.

"After having taken more than one week of thinking, I became convinced, and my family shared my conviction, and decided to resign. It is not fleeing my responsibilities; I have been shouldering my responsibilities since 14 January,” said Ghannouchi.

The resignation meets a key demand of Tunisian protesters, who have been calling for a new government and a new constitution.

Ghannouchi was seen as too close to the former president, having served under him since 1999.

The violence and demonstrations in Tunisia have been triggered by an unemployed man’s cry for help.

On December 17, a young man set fire to himself after officials in the town of Sidi Bouzid stopped him from selling vegetables on the street without their permission.

This single event led to an outcry by the Tunisian people for change.