The statement by the Cairo-based League was one of the first Arab statements on developments in Tunisia.
The Arab League called "for all political forces, representatives of Tunisian society and officials to stand together and unite to maintain the achievements of the Tunisian people and realize national peace.” It called for a return to calm and urged the country to reach a "national consensus on ways to bring the country out of this crisis in a way that guarantees respect for the will of the Tunisian people.”
Asked about repercussions of events in Tunisia on the Arab world at large, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa told reporters at a conference on Saturday: "Tunisia's events are serious events and a development that has historical dimensions, and shapes the beginning of one era and the end of another."
Moussa said events in Tunisia would be discussed during the League's economic conference in Egypt, adding that he expected a representative from Tunisia to be present at the event. The four-day conference will be held from Jan. 16-19.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians on Saturday hailed the uprising in Tunisia, saying the country's people were an inspiration to the rest of the Arab world.
In a carefully worded statement, the Palestine Liberation Organization, an umbrella group of Palestinian factions, praised the "the unparalleled courage of the Tunisian people and their heroic sacrifices to achieve their demands." The PLO, which had close ties with ousted Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, did not mention the deposed leader in the statement, instead choosing to emphasize the close ties between the Palestinians and the Tunisian people.
Tunisia was home to the PLO headquarters after the Palestinians were driven out of Lebanon in 1982 until the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994.
Other Palestinian factions, particularly the Islamist groups, were more vocal in their support of the overthrow of Ben Ali.
"We congratulate the Tunisian people for their uprising against the tyrannical regime," Daoud Shihab, a spokesman for the Islamic Jihad group, said.
The events in Tunisia "demonstrate that the Arab masses are able to bring change for freedom and rejection of tyranny and injustice," he said.
The Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers also praised the events, saying it represented the will of the Tunisian people.
"We are with our brothers, the people of Tunisia, in choosing their leaders no matter what the sacrifices are," Hamas' Interior Minister Fathi Hammad told reporters.
"This is an application of the people's will after being patient for a long time," he said.
Qatar said on Saturday it would respect the choice of Tunisians.
"Qatar respects the will and choice of the Tunisian people," a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
"Qatar commits to maintaining firm relations with the Tunisian people and developing them in the interest of both countries," said the spokesperson, indicating Qatar was "closely following events in Tunisia." Shouting "Tunisia's revolution will spread," about 50 Jordanian trade unionists held a sit-in on Saturday outside the Tunisian embassy in Amman, which was closed.
Among other slogans chanted were "Propagate intifada (uprising)," "The Tunisian Revolution will spread" and "Our government has left us penniless." "You are a coward Rifai," they called out, referring to Prime Minister Samir Rifai.
Rifai's resignation has been a recurring demand of union-led protests at soaring commodity prices, unemployment and poverty. Around 8,000 people have taken part in demonstrations across the kingdom.
Egypt on Saturday urged Tunisians to "stand together" and said it would respect the choices of the Tunisian people.
"Egypt believes that what is important in this moment is for all Tunisians to stand together," a statement from the foreign ministry said.
"Egypt affirms its respect for the choices of the Tunisian people, and is confident that the wisdom of the Tunisian brothers will lead to restraint and will avoid descending the country into chaos," it said.
