TUNIS: Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tunis on Tuesday demanding the removal of the transitional Islamist government.
It was the largest demonstration in the North African country since its political crisis began two weeks ago over the murder of the leader of the left-wing Popular Movement Party, Mohamed Brahmi.
Mohamed Brahmi, a leftist politician, was gunned down in the Tunisian capital on July 25, sparking the current unrest. His death came months after the assassination of Chokri Belaid, a champion of the secular left. Tuesday’s protest marked the six-month anniversary of Belaid’s murder.
“The people want the fall of the regime,” the crowds shouted. They were joined by the powerful Tunisian General Labor Union, which called on its 60,000 members to participate in the rally.
Meanwhile, the National Constituent Assembly (NCA), which is tasked with drafting a new constitution and electoral law, suspended its work on Tuesday until the government and opposition begin talks to end the country’s political crisis.
The leader of the ruling Ennahda party, Rachid Ghannouchi, told Tunisia’s French-Language daily La Presse that the government would not step down under pressure from the opposition.
Ghannouchi criticized the “excessive demands” for the resignation of the “elected government” in the post-revolution country.
“Unfortunately every time a tragedy hits us, we immediately call for the dissolution of the government and parliament,” Ghannouchi added.
Tunisia has been grappled by political instability and insecurity since the fall of former dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in 2011.
