Tunisia declares mourning period after death of President Essebsi

The Tunisian government has declared seven days of mourning following the death of Beji Caid Essebsi, the country’s first democratically elected president.

Condolences have continued to pour in from the region and beyond.

In a ceremony hours after the death of the 92-year-old leader, the head of parliament, Mohamed Ennaceur was sworn in as interim president.

Prime Minister Youssef Chahed declared a seven-day mourning period and ordered flags at state institutions to be lowered to half-mast.