Ben Ali and his family arrived in Jeddah in the early hours of Saturday morning, a Saudi official said.
“We have welcomed His Excellency Ben Ali and his family to the kingdom,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted a government statement as saying.
Ghannouchi, who announced that he had taken over as interim president shortly after Ben Ali left the country, has now declared a state of emergency.
The interim president says army helicopters will ensure security around the capital, but there are reports that security forces have left their posts as the national crisis deepens.
Gunshots were heard in central Tunis late on Friday but had fallen silent in the early hours of Saturday.
Witnesses say there are helicopters flying over the city with spotlights as the central train station of Tunis and many supermarkets are on fire.
Ghannouchi described the situation as complete security chaos and called on residents to join forces to protect their property.
Tunisian demonstrators have also called on Ghannouchi to step down and leave the country.
Late on Friday, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called for a peaceful resolution in Tunisia, saying, “We urge all parties to show restraint and remain calm in order to avoid further casualties and violence.”
France said it does not want Ben Ali to seek a bolt-hole on its territory and the Foreign Ministry in Paris formally confirmed that the ousted Tunisian president had not asked for asylum.
Ben Ali’s fall comes after weeks of bloody protests over corruption, unemployment, and high food prices.
Human rights groups say dozens of Tunisian protesters were killed in the government crackdown before Ben Ali, who had ruled the country since 1987, stepped down and fled the country.
Public gatherings have been banned in Tunis and security forces have been authorized to fire on anyone refusing to obey orders. A dusk-till-dawn curfew has also been imposed.
Tunisians are furious about the fact that the police killed 13 more people on Thursday night, especially since the president had promised to end the use of live rounds against protesters.
One more dictator gone, few more left to go!
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