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Killing of Tunisian Opposition Figure Sets Off Protests Killing of Tunisian Opposition Figure Sets Off Protests
(about 1 hour later)
CAIRO — A leading Tunisian opposition politician who had fiercely criticized the Islamist-led government, accusing it of turning a blind eye to violence by religious hard-liners, was fatally shot outside his home in Tunis on Wednesday, officials said. TUNIS — A leading Tunisian opposition politician who had fiercely criticized the Islamist-led government, accusing it of turning a blind eye to violence by religious hard-liners, was fatally shot outside his home in Tunis on Wednesday, officials said.
The politician, Chokri Belaid, a leading member of a leftist opposition alliance formed in October, was shot by an unknown gunman or gunmen just as he was leaving his house in Tunis, Tunisia’s capital, the state news agency TAP said. A colleague in Mr. Belaid’s opposition alliance told Reuters that he was killed with four bullets to the head and chest.The politician, Chokri Belaid, a leading member of a leftist opposition alliance formed in October, was shot by an unknown gunman or gunmen just as he was leaving his house in Tunis, Tunisia’s capital, the state news agency TAP said. A colleague in Mr. Belaid’s opposition alliance told Reuters that he was killed with four bullets to the head and chest.
Tunisia’s president, Moncef Marzouki, cut short an overseas trip and was scheduled to return to the country. The prime minister, Hamadi Jebali, called the killing “a political assassination and the assassination of the Tunisian revolution,” according to Reuters. Thousands of protesters angered by the killing marched in the capital and other Tunisian cities. The country’s president, Moncef Marzouki, cut short an overseas trip to deal with the crisis. The prime minister, Hamadi Jebali, called the killing “a political assassination and the assassination of the Tunisian revolution,” according to Reuters.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killing, which appeared to represent a dangerous new phase in Tunisia’s troubled transition to democracy. Since becoming the first Arab country to overthrow its leader after the start of the so-called Arab Spring uprisings in 2011, Tunisia has been torn between its legacy as a bastion for Arab secularism, and its new role, as a proving ground for the region’s emerging democracies in which Islamists play a leading role. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killing, which appeared to represent a dangerous new phase in Tunisia’s troubled transition to democracy. Since becoming the first Arab country to overthrow its leader after the start of the Arab uprisings in 2011, Tunisia has been torn between its legacy as a bastion for Arab secularism, and its new role, as a proving ground for the region’s emerging democracies in which Islamists play a leading role.
Since the revolution, that competition has led to episodes of escalating political violence, often perpetrated by hard-line Islamists known as Salafis — but rarely killings. Since the revolution, that competition has led to episodes of escalating political violence, often perpetrated by hard-line Islamists known as Salafis — but never before brazen assassinations like Wednesday’s.
Mr. Belaid and others had accused Ennahda, the ruling Islamist party, of accommodating the Salafis, by refusing to prosecute them or crack down on the groups. In recent days, Mr. Belaid, a lawyer who had received numerous death threats including from hard-line imams, had accused Islamists of carrying out an attack on a meeting of his supporters on Saturday. Mr. Belaid and others had accused Ennahda, the ruling Islamist party, of accommodating the Salafis by refusing to prosecute them or crack down on the groups. In recent days, Mr. Belaid, a lawyer who had received numerous death threats including from hard-line imams, had accused Islamists of carrying out an attack on a meeting of his supporters on Saturday.
“At the end of our meeting, a group of Ennahda mercenaries and Salafists attacked our activists,” Mr. Belaid said.“At the end of our meeting, a group of Ennahda mercenaries and Salafists attacked our activists,” Mr. Belaid said.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ennahda denied any responsibility, calling the killing a “heinous crime” that targeted the “security and stability of Tunisia.”In a statement on Wednesday, Ennahda denied any responsibility, calling the killing a “heinous crime” that targeted the “security and stability of Tunisia.”
As news of the assassination spread on Wednesday, thousands of people gathered in front of the interior ministry, a massive gray building that is still a hated symbol of Tunisia’s deposed authoritarian leader, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, to express anger at Tunisia’s new government. “The people want the fall of the regime,” a group chanted, reprising the uprising’s refrain. In Washington, the State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, criticized the killing, calling it an “outrageous and cowardly act.”
She urged the government in Tunis to conduct a “fair, transparent and professional investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice consistent with Tunisian law and international norms.” Noting the protests that erupted in response to the killing, Ms. Nuland called on all Tunisians “to respect the rule of law, to renounce violence and to express themselves about this incident and anything else peacefully.”
As news of the assassination spread, thousands of people gathered in front of the interior ministry, a massive gray building that is still a hated symbol of Tunisia’s deposed authoritarian leader, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, to express anger at Tunisia’s new government. “The people want the fall of the regime,” a group chanted, reprising the uprising’s refrain.
“Resignation, resignation, the cabinet of treason!” others shouted.“Resignation, resignation, the cabinet of treason!” others shouted.
Riot police officers fired tear gas into the crowds and plainclothes officers beat demonstrators who did not run, witnesses said, in scenes that recalled the uprising against Mr. Ben Ali.
There were reports of attacks on Ennahda offices in different parts of the country, including in Sidi Bouzid, the town where the Tunisian revolt began.There were reports of attacks on Ennahda offices in different parts of the country, including in Sidi Bouzid, the town where the Tunisian revolt began.
“To have an assassination at this time with a firearm at point-blank range is shocking,” said Amna Guellali, a researcher for Human Rights Watch based in Tunis.“To have an assassination at this time with a firearm at point-blank range is shocking,” said Amna Guellali, a researcher for Human Rights Watch based in Tunis.
“We’re in a climate of political violence now,” she added, saying that Human Rights Watch had documented numerous attacks against activists, journalists and political figures by Salafist and other groups. “Last month, there were various leaders targeted, various meetings of political parties disrupted and assaulted,” she said.“We’re in a climate of political violence now,” she added, saying that Human Rights Watch had documented numerous attacks against activists, journalists and political figures by Salafist and other groups. “Last month, there were various leaders targeted, various meetings of political parties disrupted and assaulted,” she said.
Ms. Guellali said that on Tuesday, Mr. Belaid had called for a national dialogue to confront political violence. “He said political violence was becoming more organized due to the laxity of the government,” she said. “This just adds to the tragedy.”Ms. Guellali said that on Tuesday, Mr. Belaid had called for a national dialogue to confront political violence. “He said political violence was becoming more organized due to the laxity of the government,” she said. “This just adds to the tragedy.”

Kareem Fahim reported from Cairo, and Gerry Mullany from Hong Kong. Monica Marks contributed reporting from Tunis, and Mayy el Sheikh from Cairo.

Monica Marks reported from Tunis, and Kareem Fahim from Cairo. Gerry Mullany contributed reporting from Hong Kong, Mayy el Sheikh from Cairo and Brian Knowlton from Washington.