Tunisia`s Islamists and opposition reach deal on premier

Tunis: Tunisia`s ruling Islamists and opposition parties reached a deal on Thursday to name a new prime minister for a caretaker administration until elections next year as a way to end months of crisis, mediators said on Thursday. Hussein Abassi, head of the powerful UGTT labor union negotiating between the two sides, said an accord had been reached, but details would only be given on Friday.

A deal on a new prime minister would clear the way for the current government to step down later this month and end turmoil that has threatened to upset Tunisia`s transition to full democracy three years after its "Arab Spring" uprising.