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| Tunisia's Islamists hold rally in capital | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of supporters of Tunisia's governing Islamist party are attending a rally in the centre of the capital, Tunis, a day after huge crowds attended a murdered opposition leader's funeral. | |
| The demonstrators have gathered outside the National Theatre and are chanting: "We are Muslims, we will not be moved." | |
| Ennahda called the rally to defend the National Constituent Assembly's legitimacy and fight against violence. | |
| Opposition supporters have blamed the group for the death of Chokri Belaid. | |
| Speaking to BBC Arabic after the funeral, Chokri Belaid's widow Basma Khalfawi said she would file a lawsuit against the party's leader, Rachid Ghannouchi. | Speaking to BBC Arabic after the funeral, Chokri Belaid's widow Basma Khalfawi said she would file a lawsuit against the party's leader, Rachid Ghannouchi. |
| Mr Ghannouchi has condemned the murder and denied any involvement. The government has blamed opponents of democracy. | Mr Ghannouchi has condemned the murder and denied any involvement. The government has blamed opponents of democracy. |
| Mr Belaid, a lawyer and secular political figure, was shot by a gunman as he left home for work on Wednesday. The previous day he had accused a faction inside Ennahda of being behind attacks on the opposition. | Mr Belaid, a lawyer and secular political figure, was shot by a gunman as he left home for work on Wednesday. The previous day he had accused a faction inside Ennahda of being behind attacks on the opposition. |
| Political uncertainty | Political uncertainty |
| Ennahda told its members on its Facebook page that their attendance was required for Saturday afternoon's rally on Habib Bourguiba Avenue, in the centre of the capital. | |
| The demonstration would defend the Constituent Assembly, the post said. Its work on a new constitution suffered a severe setback when four leftist parties ended their participation following Mr Belaid's killing. | The demonstration would defend the Constituent Assembly, the post said. Its work on a new constitution suffered a severe setback when four leftist parties ended their participation following Mr Belaid's killing. |
| Ennahda said its supporters would also fight against political violence, demand that a law be passed to fortify the January 2011 revolution, and warn France not to interfere in the affairs of the Tunisian state. | Ennahda said its supporters would also fight against political violence, demand that a law be passed to fortify the January 2011 revolution, and warn France not to interfere in the affairs of the Tunisian state. |
| The rallying call by the Islamist group, which has the most seats in the Constituent Assembly, came a day after Mr Belaid's funeral brought as many as a million mourners onto the streets of the capital. | The rallying call by the Islamist group, which has the most seats in the Constituent Assembly, came a day after Mr Belaid's funeral brought as many as a million mourners onto the streets of the capital. |
| There were violent scenes at the el-Jellaz cemetery, as cars were torched and police fired tear gas at protesters calling for a new revolution. | There were violent scenes at the el-Jellaz cemetery, as cars were torched and police fired tear gas at protesters calling for a new revolution. |
| Elsewhere in Tunis, many shops shut and most public transport was not running in respect of the first general strike in the country for 35 years. | Elsewhere in Tunis, many shops shut and most public transport was not running in respect of the first general strike in the country for 35 years. |
| Afterwards, Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali repeated his offer to replace the government with a cabinet of technocrats and call early elections. | Afterwards, Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali repeated his offer to replace the government with a cabinet of technocrats and call early elections. |
| However, it is still not clear if that plan has been agreed to by Ennahda. Mr Ghannouchi has said the governing coalition should stay in place. | However, it is still not clear if that plan has been agreed to by Ennahda. Mr Ghannouchi has said the governing coalition should stay in place. |
| The BBC's Wyre Davies in Tunis reports that there is a real feeling of political uncertainty in a country that clearly needs strong leadership. | The BBC's Wyre Davies in Tunis reports that there is a real feeling of political uncertainty in a country that clearly needs strong leadership. |
| Two years after the first of the Arab uprisings, many liberal Tunisians accuse Ennahda of allowing ultra-conservative Islamists, or Salafists, to violently impose their version of how their country should develop, our correspondent says. | Two years after the first of the Arab uprisings, many liberal Tunisians accuse Ennahda of allowing ultra-conservative Islamists, or Salafists, to violently impose their version of how their country should develop, our correspondent says. |
| There are fears now that if there are counter-demonstrations by pro-government groups, it may lead to more violence and instability, he adds. | There are fears now that if there are counter-demonstrations by pro-government groups, it may lead to more violence and instability, he adds. |