Tunisia's new premier says he will assemble a new Cabinet in the coming days to help get beyond the recent bout of violence in the North African country that led his predecessor to quit.

Beji Caid-Essebsi's annoucement is the latest step by Tunisia's interim leaders to stabilize the country after longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled amid protests in January sparking unrest across the Arab world.

The 84-year-old prime minister made the comments Friday at his first news conference, five days after 11-year predecessor Mohamed Ghannouchi quit in the wake of bloody weekend protests.

Six government ministers quit their posts since Sunday. On Thursday, interim president Fouad Mebazaa announced legislative elections will be held on 24 July.