A court in Tunisia has ruled to dissolve the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD), the former governing party of Tunisia’s deposed leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The packed courtroom burst into applause after the judgement was read out and sang the national anthem in celebration.

It means the RCD will no longer be able to put forward candidates in future elections.

A judge in the Tunis Court of First Instance Court ruled the party should be disbanded and its funds confiscated.

Demonstrators chanting “the RCD is dead” and “Tunisia free” marched peacefully towards the Kasbah square which has been the focus of pro-democracy rallies.

Ben Ali was toppled by mass protests on 14 January after 23 years of autocratic rule and fled to Saudi Arabia.

Interim authorities have struggled to restore stability in the North African country, but over the past week they have outlined a transition plan and started dismantling the symbols of Ben Ali’s power.