Tunisia's interim government hailed Friday the step down of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the power transfer to the Higher Council of Egyptian Armed Forces, the official TAP press agency reported.

Tunisia also "paid tribute to the Egyptian army for its high patriotic sense and the pivotal role it played in protecting the country and its children during the difficult period," said TAP.

The interim government also voiced its "confidence that this great event will strengthen the long-standing Tunisian-Egyptian relations and will undoubtedly contribute to the triumph of Arab causes."

Thousands of people gathered in Tunis on Friday afternoon to hail the change of power in Egypt, waving the flags of Tunisia and Egypt and chanting slogans to support the Egyptian people.