Tunisia's prime minister has announced his resignation following the rejection of his initiative to form an apolitical government of technocrats to see the country out of its political crisis, The Associated Press reports.

Hamadi Jebali made the announcement Tuesday, Feb 19, following a meeting with President Moncef Marzouki.

Jebali's own party, the moderate Islamist Ennahda that dominates the government, rejected the initiative, insisting that the country still needed a government of politicians.

The assassination of a leftist politician on Feb. 6 has plunged the country into turmoil and unleashed days of unrest.

Jebali said his resignation was a first step in restoring public confidence in the government.