President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on Wednesday appointed a new Interior Minister and ordered most of those arrested during weeks of protests against unemployment and rising prices to be released. At least 23 people have been killed in the unrest.

Tunisia’s Prime Minister said Wednesday that the Interior minister has been fired after protest violence that has killed at least 23 people and left the country’s leadership struggling to keep the country under control. Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi also announced that most prisoners arrested during nearly a month of riots are being freed. He said the release did not apply to those whose guilt has been proven, without elaborating. The Prime Minister announced the appointment of a new Interior Minister, Ahmed Friaa.

Despair over Tunisia’s soaring unemployment and corruption has fueled the protests, which pose the most significant challenge yet to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The 74-year-old leader grabbed power 23 years ago in a bloodless coup.