"Farhat Rajhi is a liar and his statements are dangerous and irresponsible and (he) deserves to be prosecuted," he said in an interview with national television.
Rajhi, in a video interview posted on Facebook Wednesday, said some members of the ruling elite still in power were preparing a military coup should the Islamist Ennahda (Renaissance) win the July 24 election.
"Since independence, political life has been dominated by the people of the Tunisian Sahel," such as former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, toppled in January.
Despite Ben Ali`s ouster these people are not ready to cede power, he argued.
"If the results of the forthcoming elections go against their interests, there will be a military coup."
In the interview Rahji also said that Essebsi had discussed the military coup issue during a visit to Algeria in mid-March.
"The nomination on April 18 of General Rachid Ammar as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is only in preparation of the coup," he added.
Essebsi said Rajhi`s statement was "premeditated" and meant to create conflicts and eventually lead to a postponement of the election.
He said the election would be held at the planned date and called for an end to continuing unrest in the country which was threatening its economy.
Although Rajhi has backed off from his remarks, on Saturday interim President Foued Mebazaa announced that he had been sacked as head of the High Commission for Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties (HCDHLF).
Rajhi served briefly as interior minister under the interim administration, appointed on January 27, two weeks after Ben Ali`s downfall.
As soon as he took office Rajhi fired dozens of top officials in the interior ministry, a symbol of Ben Ali`s repressive regime.
Only days after his appointment, hundreds of police and supporters of Ben Ali stormed the interior ministry threatening to kill him.
His plain speaking in television appearances earned him the respect of many Tunisians, judging from the response in Internet chatrooms and blogs.
His abolition in March of Tunisia`s feared political police, who had rounded up thousands of political dissidents, was also popular.
But later the same month Mebazaa sacked him as interior minister. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
