Updated Tunisia crisis | Ben Ali ousted from power, flees to Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi (in office since 1999) has taken over as interim president, and a state of emergency has been declared, later saying that he will be meeting political leaders on Saturday in an attempt to form a government.

On live television, via telephone, Ghannouchi attempted to reassure the population "I salute the fact that groups of young people have got together to defend their neighborhoods but we can assure them we will reinforce their security," he said. "We are at the service of the Tunisian people. Our country does not deserve everything that is happening. We must regain the trust of citizens in the government."

While Ghannouchi said he would steer the state until early elections, it was not as yet clear whether protesters would accept him due to his close association with Ben Ali's rule.

After abandoning power in Tunis, Mr Ben Ali left the country aboard a plane accompanied by his family - amid widespread speculation about where he was travelling to.

While French media reported that President Nicolas Sarkozy had rejected a request for his plane to land in France, a Saudi palace statement later confirmed Ben Ali had arrived in the country early on Saturday.

President Ben Ali has been ousted and has fled Tunisia amid violent protests that have rocked the North African country.

More than 100 people have been killed during three weeks of riots that escalated today in the capital Tunis, where thousands chanted for Ben Ali's resignation.

While a state of emergency has been declared, Ben Ali fled the country while members of his family were arrested at the airport as they too sought to leave the country.

The army has meanwhile surrounded the Presidential Palace and the airport, while the country's airspace has been temporarily closed to all air traffic.

News about Ben Ali's departure from Tunisia sparked speculation that he was bound for Malta, while Valletta swiftly denied the reports, stressing that there never was any request for landing in Malta.

A spokesman for Malta's Foreign Office has confirmed that the government had "no knowledge" of Ben Ali's aircraft landing in Malta.

"With reference to reports in the international media, the Maltese government is stating that President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali is not in Malta. There has been no request to the Maltese Government to receive President Ben Ali in Malta."

Meanwhile MaltaToday is informed that the Presidential aircraft has had radio contact with Malta's control tower.

According to the reports, the pilot had informed the Malta tower that he was heading for Paris.