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Tunisian opposition leader shot dead Tunisian opposition leader shot dead
(about 9 hours later)
A Tunisian opposition party leader who had been critical of the Islamist-led government and radical Muslim violence has been shot dead. A Tunisian opposition party leader who had been critical of the Islamist-led government and radical Muslim violence has been shot dead, setting off anti-government riots that left downtown Tunis choked with teargas and patrolled by a tank and armoured cars.
Chokri Belaid, leader of the Unified Democratic Nationalist party, was shot outside his home in Tunis on Wednesday morning and died in hospital shortly after. Chokri Belaid, leader of the Unified Democratic Nationalist party, was shot outside his home in Tunis by a man who fled on a motorcycle on Wednesday morning. He died in hospital shortly afterwards.
President Moncef Marzouki cut short a visit to France and cancelled a trip to Egypt scheduled for Thursday after the killing, which triggered a 1,000-strong protest outside the interior ministry. The president, Moncef Marzouki, cut short a visit to France and cancelled a trip to Egypt scheduled for Thursday after the killing, which triggered a 1,000-strong protest outside the interior ministry.
Chanting for the fall of the Islamist-led government, demonstrators shouted "Shame, shame Chokri died", "Where is the government?", and, "The government should fall". Police used teargas to disperse the protesters, who were gathered on the same broad, tree-lined boulevard where two years ago anti-government protests led to the fall of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia's longtime dictator. The crowds even chanted the same slogan: "The people want the fall of the regime." As the police moved in people ran for the shelter of nearby buildings yelling: "No to Ennahda," and: "Ghannouchi assassin," referring to the moderate Islamist party and its leader, who dominate the elected government.
The prime minister, Hamadi Jebali, who heads the Ennahda party-led government, which won Tunisia's first post-Arab spring election in 2011, said: "The murder of Belaid is a political assassination and the assassination of the Tunisian revolution. By killing him they wanted to silence his voice." The centre of the city was left deserted and littered with stones, guarded by police armoured vehicles and patrolled by a tank from the national guard. Knots of riot police chased protesters through the elegant streets downtown. Elsewhere around the country, police responded to a protest in the coastal city of Sousse with teargas while Ennahda offices were attacked in several towns, according to Radio Mosaique and Radio Shems FM.
The prime minister, Hamadi Jebali, who heads the Ennahda-led government, which won Tunisia's first post-Arab spring-election in 2011, said: "The murder of Belaid is a political assassination and the assassination of the Tunisian revolution. By killing him they wanted to silence his voice."
Belaid was an outspoken critic of the coalition government. His small party co-founded the Popular Front, a leftist alliance preparing to compete in the elections this year.Belaid was an outspoken critic of the coalition government. His small party co-founded the Popular Front, a leftist alliance preparing to compete in the elections this year.
"Chokri Belaid was killed today by four bullets to the head and chest ... doctors told us that he has died. This is a sad day for Tunisia," Ziad Lakhader, a leader of the Popular Front, told Reuters. Other party sources confirmed his death. "Chokri Belaid was killed today by four bullets to the head and chest … doctors told us that he has died. This is a sad day for Tunisia," Ziad Lakhader, a leader of the Popular Front, told Reuters.
The man who shot Belaid fled on a motorcycle ridden by an accomplice, according to the interior ministry spokesman Khaled Tarrouch, who called the assassination a "terrorist act" and said the politician had been shot point-blank several times. "A man opened fire on Chokri Belaid and then fled with a second person who was waiting on a motorcycle," Tarrouch added. Police have yet to arrest any suspects.
The reason for the killing is unclear, but it comes as Tunisia struggles with social and religious tensions after its longtime dictator was overthrown in an uprising two years ago that set off revolts across the Arab world.The reason for the killing is unclear, but it comes as Tunisia struggles with social and religious tensions after its longtime dictator was overthrown in an uprising two years ago that set off revolts across the Arab world.
Belaid had been a fierce critic of Ennahda, claiming it turns a blind eye to violence perpetrated by extremists against other parties. His family said Belaid regularly received death threats – the most recent on Tuesday – but had refused to limit his high-profile activities.
The murder comes amid reports of intimidation and violence against opposition groups, and days before an official commission of inquiry is due to report its findings on an attack against a trades union rally in December.The murder comes amid reports of intimidation and violence against opposition groups, and days before an official commission of inquiry is due to report its findings on an attack against a trades union rally in December.
Tunisia's Islamist-led government is in negotiations with opposition parties to reshuffle the cabinet and possibly expand the ruling coalition. Weeks of talks have yielded nothing, however, as the parties seem unable to reach an agreement over redistributing power.
Over the weekend, radicals disrupted a rally led by Belaid in northern Tunisia, part of a string of political meetings that were disrupted by gangs.
Belaid had been particularly outspoken against the so-called "Committees to Protect the Revolution", which many accuse of being behind the violence. These groups are believed to be affiliated with the Ennahda party and say it is their mission to seek out remnants of the old regime.
"There are groups inside Ennahda inciting violence," Belaid told the Nessma TV channel the night before he was shot. "Rachid Ghannouchi considers the leagues to be the conscience of the nation, so the defence of the authors of violence is clear. All those who oppose Ennahda become the targets of violence."
Marzouki, a member of a secular party in the governing coalition, called the assassination a threat against all Tunisians.
"Chokri Belaid was murdered this very day knowing I was going to be speaking to you," he told the European parliament in Strasbourg, France. "This is a letter being sent to us that we will refuse to open. We reject that message and we will continue to unmask the enemies of the revolution."
Afterward in a news conference, Marzouki said the assassination would not derail the country's transition to democracy.
"All these destabilisation attempts – and there will be others because for some the Tunisian model should not succeed – I can tell you that we will face the challenge and defeat it," he said.
EU parliament members held a moment of silence for Belaid.