[Builds on and corrects some of my last post]
Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia, where he was granted asylum. French sources said that he was denied admission to France. France has ordered his family members that have been there to leave the country.
The head of parliament was asked by the "constitutional council" to act as president for the coming 60 days ,as per constitution stipulation. Apparently this annuls what the Prime Minister(First minister) has declared that he is the acting president; and considers Ben Ali thrown out. The head of parliament( acting president) took the oath of office in a televised ceremony, and asked the First minister! to form a unity government, so as to oversee the election of the new president, within the 60 days as stipulated by the constitution. After which early elections should be arranged as early as possible.
Tunisian intellectuals and opposition leaders are , rightfully, calling that none of the old regime members or allies be in charge of any transitional government. They consider the current constitution as unconstitutional. Their argument is that this fake constitution has been tailored to suit Burgiba, Ben Ali's predecessor who ruled as dictator for 25 years. I believe he made a special case of being elected for life. i.e until Ben Ali removed him, as he was on his death bed. Then Ben Ali kept amending and changing the constitution to suit him and his close click. So many are asking dissolving all current institutions and forming a government of leaders of opposition parties excluding the Ben Ali's ruling party and all the legalized dummy opposition parties that Ben Ali has created as decoys, to make the scene look democratic.
Yet it seems that the situation was less violent than previous days, giving the impression that this card trick is being condoned by the people who are already celebrating.
I remember having read a Lenin quote where he rightfully says something to the effect: Remember.. Once you start an uprising, you better stick with it till the very end.