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Tunisia shaken by 'Islamist protests' | Tunisia shaken by 'Islamist protests' |
(40 minutes later) | |
The Tunisian government has condemned a series of attacks on police stations, a court and an art gallery. | The Tunisian government has condemned a series of attacks on police stations, a court and an art gallery. |
Government officials said ultra-conservative Salafist Muslims and criminals were behind the violence, much of which took place overnight. | Government officials said ultra-conservative Salafist Muslims and criminals were behind the violence, much of which took place overnight. |
But the Salafists denied being involved in the rampage, which took place in several areas of the capital Tunis and in the country's north-west. | But the Salafists denied being involved in the rampage, which took place in several areas of the capital Tunis and in the country's north-west. |
At least 90 people were arrested in the violence, and seven policemen hurt. | At least 90 people were arrested in the violence, and seven policemen hurt. |
In one northern suburb, La Marsa, rioters tried to force their way into an art gallery where several paintings deemed "blasphemous" had been slashed a day earlier by Islamists. | In one northern suburb, La Marsa, rioters tried to force their way into an art gallery where several paintings deemed "blasphemous" had been slashed a day earlier by Islamists. |
'Heavy price' | 'Heavy price' |
The exhibition included paintings that caricatured Mecca, portrayed a nude woman, and showed the word "Allah" spelled out with strings of ants. | The exhibition included paintings that caricatured Mecca, portrayed a nude woman, and showed the word "Allah" spelled out with strings of ants. |
The offices of Tunisia's main labour union in the north-west city of Jendouba were set alight by Salafis overnight, state television reported according to Reuters. | The offices of Tunisia's main labour union in the north-west city of Jendouba were set alight by Salafis overnight, state television reported according to Reuters. |
A government spokesman said that police had fired tear-gas as a group of Salafists who torched a local court in west Tunis, the AFP news agency reports. | A government spokesman said that police had fired tear-gas as a group of Salafists who torched a local court in west Tunis, the AFP news agency reports. |
Several police stations in the north were also attacked, AFP reports. | Several police stations in the north were also attacked, AFP reports. |
The country's Justice Minister Nourredine Bhiri said that those behind the violence would "pay a heavy price". | The country's Justice Minister Nourredine Bhiri said that those behind the violence would "pay a heavy price". |
"These are terrorist groups which have lost control, they are isolated in society," he told a Tunisian radio station. | "These are terrorist groups which have lost control, they are isolated in society," he told a Tunisian radio station. |
An official from the justice ministry said that those arrested would be brought to justice under a 2003 anti-terror law, AFP reports. | |
Resurgence | Resurgence |
He said some of the violence, which came hours after al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri urged Tunisians to turn against the government, may have been inspired by the group. | He said some of the violence, which came hours after al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri urged Tunisians to turn against the government, may have been inspired by the group. |
The Salafist movement called on Tunisians to protest against "infringements against Islam" but said it had nothing to do with the violence. | The Salafist movement called on Tunisians to protest against "infringements against Islam" but said it had nothing to do with the violence. |
Since the fall of Tunisia's autocratic leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, in January 2011, there has been a resurgence of hard-line Islamists in the country. | Since the fall of Tunisia's autocratic leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, in January 2011, there has been a resurgence of hard-line Islamists in the country. |
Some of the Salafists' most radical branches have been holding demonstrations to demand an introduction of Sharia in Tunisia. | Some of the Salafists' most radical branches have been holding demonstrations to demand an introduction of Sharia in Tunisia. |
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