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| Tunisia political crisis deepens after assassination | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tunisia's political crisis is deepening after the assassination of a leading opposition leader earlier this week. | Tunisia's political crisis is deepening after the assassination of a leading opposition leader earlier this week. |
| The killing of anti-Islamist politician Chokri Belaid sparked violent protests. The prime minister then announced plans for a new, technocratic government. | |
| But the ruling Islamist party Ennahda rejected the move, saying Hamadi Jebali "did not ask the opinion of his party". | |
| Meanwhile, police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Tunis and in the central town of Gafsa, reports say. | |
| The Gafsa demonstrators, who were observing a symbolic funeral for Chokri Belaid, rallied outside the governor's office, throwing stones and petrol bombs at the police. | |
| In a separate development, lawyers and judges across Tunisia have reportedly launched a two-day strike in response to Wednesday's killing. | |
| Earlier, four opposition groups - including Mr Belaid's Popular Front - announced that they were pulling out of the country's national constituent assembly in protest. | Earlier, four opposition groups - including Mr Belaid's Popular Front - announced that they were pulling out of the country's national constituent assembly in protest. |
| Reacting to the escalating crisis, France said it would close its schools in the capital Tunis on Friday and Saturday. | |
| Mr Belaid's killing has brought to a new pitch a long-simmering political crisis in Tunisia, with secularists and liberals accusing the Islamists of amassing too much power, the BBC's Sebastian Usher says. | Mr Belaid's killing has brought to a new pitch a long-simmering political crisis in Tunisia, with secularists and liberals accusing the Islamists of amassing too much power, the BBC's Sebastian Usher says. |
| Ennahda denies opposition claims that it was behind the assassination in Tunis. | |
| 'Many enemies' | |
| "We in Ennahda believe Tunisia needs a political government now," party Vice-President Abdelhamid Jelassi said on Thursday. | "We in Ennahda believe Tunisia needs a political government now," party Vice-President Abdelhamid Jelassi said on Thursday. |
| "We will continue discussions with others parties about forming a coalition government," he added. | "We will continue discussions with others parties about forming a coalition government," he added. |
| Ennahda spokesman Abdelhamid Aljallasi later added that party members had not been informed of the prime minister's decision before he announced it. | Ennahda spokesman Abdelhamid Aljallasi later added that party members had not been informed of the prime minister's decision before he announced it. |
| Late on Wednesday, Mr Jebali said he would dismiss the current cabinet and form a government of "competent nationals without political affiliation". | |
| The new ministers would have a mandate "limited to managing the affairs of the country until elections are held in the shortest possible time", the prime minister said in a nationally televised address. | |
| The killing of Mr Belaid - the first political assassination in Tunisia since the Arab Spring uprising in 2011 - sparked angry protests across Tunisia. | The killing of Mr Belaid - the first political assassination in Tunisia since the Arab Spring uprising in 2011 - sparked angry protests across Tunisia. |
| He was shot dead at close range on his way to work. The attacker fled on the back of a motorcycle. | |
| Thousands of people later rallied outside the interior ministry, many chanting slogans urging the government to stand down and calling for a new revolution. | Thousands of people later rallied outside the interior ministry, many chanting slogans urging the government to stand down and calling for a new revolution. |
| In the centre of Tunis, a police officer was killed during clashes between police and opposition supporters protesting against Mr Belaid's death. | In the centre of Tunis, a police officer was killed during clashes between police and opposition supporters protesting against Mr Belaid's death. |
| Mr Belaid was a respected human rights lawyer, and a left-wing secular opponent of the government which took power after the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. | Mr Belaid was a respected human rights lawyer, and a left-wing secular opponent of the government which took power after the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. |
| Current President Moncef Marzouki said the assassination should not affect Tunisia's revolution. | Current President Moncef Marzouki said the assassination should not affect Tunisia's revolution. |
| "There are many enemies of our peaceful revolution. And they're determined to ensure it fails," he said. | "There are many enemies of our peaceful revolution. And they're determined to ensure it fails," he said. |
| Referring to Mr Belaid as a "long-standing friend", he said his "hateful assassination" was a threat. | Referring to Mr Belaid as a "long-standing friend", he said his "hateful assassination" was a threat. |
| "This is a letter being sent to us that we will refuse to open," the president said. | "This is a letter being sent to us that we will refuse to open," the president said. |
| Mr Marzouki also announced that he was cutting short a visit to France and cancelling a trip to Egypt to return home to deal with the crisis. | Mr Marzouki also announced that he was cutting short a visit to France and cancelling a trip to Egypt to return home to deal with the crisis. |
| Are you in Tunisia? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments using the form below. |