TUNISIA: Thousands protest against the killing of policemen by Islamists in Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid as the ruling moderate Islamist party and opposition try to end political paralysis

Record ID: 376797

  • Title: TUNISIA: Thousands protest against the killing of policemen by Islamists in Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid as the ruling moderate Islamist party and opposition try to end political paralysis
  • Date: 24th October 2013
  • Summary: SIDI BOUZID, TUNISIA (OCTOBER 24, 2013) (REUTERS) LARGE CROWD MOVING TOWARDS CAMERA DURING PROTEST CROWDS SHOUTING DURING PROTEST MORE OF SHOUTING DURING PROTEST BACK OF MARCH MAN TRYING TO ORGANISE THE TOP OF THE MARCH AND TUNISIAN FLAGS CROWDS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUILDING PROTESTERS DOING VICTORY SIGN IN FRONT OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUILDING (SOUNDBI
  • Embargoed: 8th November 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Tunisia
  • Country: Tunisia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA6FPACGQGE3MEAH80I72GT6NPF
  • Story Text: Tension is rising in Tunisia where thousands demonstrated on Thursday (October 24) in the town of Sidi Bouzid, birthplace of the 2011 revolution which unseated the government and saw the rise of the once banned Islamist Ennahda party now in power.
    The protest was sparked by the killing on Wednesday (October 23) of seven policemen by Islamist militants supporters of Ansar al-Sharia.
    The crowds here blame the government for failing to rein in religious extremism.
    Clashes erupted during a protest in the northern town of Kef and local Ennahda party offices were ransacked in Beja where demonstrators demanded the government resign.
    The killings happened as the ruling moderate Islamist Ennahda party and opposition were trying to start talks to end a paralysing deadlock since the assassination of two secular opposition leaders earlier this year.

    "These people can no longer bear this situation. What more can we do than demonstrate like this? If the government stays this movement will get stronger," warned one protester in Sidi Bouzid.
    Divisions between Islamists and their secular opponents have widened in one of the Muslim world's most secular countries.
    Prime Minister Ali Larayedh says Ennahda is ready to resign, but insists on the completion of the country's new constitution, the establishment of an electoral commission and a clear election date before handing over power.
    Talks are scheduled over the next three weeks to decide on a caretaker government and set a date for elections. But opposition leaders want Ennahda to be clearer about its intention to resign.
    The government two months ago declared a local hardline Islamist movement, Ansar al-Sharia, to be a terrorist organisation and began a crackdown that authorities say has led to more than 300 arrests.
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