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| Four held over murder of Tunisian opposition leader | Four held over murder of Tunisian opposition leader |
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| Four suspects belonging to a radical Islamic group have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of a leftist politician that plunged Tunisia into crisis, but the killer himself remains at large, the interior minister said on Tuesday. | Four suspects belonging to a radical Islamic group have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of a leftist politician that plunged Tunisia into crisis, but the killer himself remains at large, the interior minister said on Tuesday. |
| Ali Larayedh, who has been named as the next prime minister, said the suspects, some of whom had been arrested in the last 48 hours, were accomplices to the murder and that the identity of the assassin is known. | Ali Larayedh, who has been named as the next prime minister, said the suspects, some of whom had been arrested in the last 48 hours, were accomplices to the murder and that the identity of the assassin is known. |
| Chokri Belaïd, the leader of an opposition party in the Popular Front coalition, was assassinated outside his home on 6 February. | Chokri Belaïd, the leader of an opposition party in the Popular Front coalition, was assassinated outside his home on 6 February. |
| It shocked the country and many blamed the Islamist-led governing coalition, unleashing days of protests. On Sunday, thousands demonstrated in downtown Tunis over the lack of results in the investigation. | It shocked the country and many blamed the Islamist-led governing coalition, unleashing days of protests. On Sunday, thousands demonstrated in downtown Tunis over the lack of results in the investigation. |
| Many have accused the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which dominates the government, of complicity in the attack, citing its alleged use of gangs to intimidate political opponents. But Ennahda has denied ever resorting to any violence and has vehemently condemned the assassination. | Many have accused the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which dominates the government, of complicity in the attack, citing its alleged use of gangs to intimidate political opponents. But Ennahda has denied ever resorting to any violence and has vehemently condemned the assassination. |
| Larayedh, a member of Ennahda, did not identify the group he was holding responsible for the assassination, but denied there were any foreign links to the killing. | Larayedh, a member of Ennahda, did not identify the group he was holding responsible for the assassination, but denied there were any foreign links to the killing. |
| Since the overthrow of Tunisia's secular dictatorship in January 2011, there has been a rise in ultraconservative Muslims known as Salafis, some of whom have resorted to violence. On 14 September, a band attacked the US embassy and damaged the surroundings. Tunisia's government has blamed the radical Islamic group Ansar al-Shariah for that attack and said it is trying to track down its leader. | Since the overthrow of Tunisia's secular dictatorship in January 2011, there has been a rise in ultraconservative Muslims known as Salafis, some of whom have resorted to violence. On 14 September, a band attacked the US embassy and damaged the surroundings. Tunisia's government has blamed the radical Islamic group Ansar al-Shariah for that attack and said it is trying to track down its leader. |
| Larayedh said that he was holding Tuesday's news conference in response to pressure for results of the investigation and media leaks the night before that had erroneously claimed the murderer himself had been arrested. | Larayedh said that he was holding Tuesday's news conference in response to pressure for results of the investigation and media leaks the night before that had erroneously claimed the murderer himself had been arrested. |
| "The investigation is ongoing, and I will give you the latest conclusions," he said. "We cannot give any details that would affect the inquiry." | "The investigation is ongoing, and I will give you the latest conclusions," he said. "We cannot give any details that would affect the inquiry." |
| The said the four suspects range in age from 26 to 34 and are part of a "radical religious group," he said, adding that one had confessed to accompanying the actual assassin. At least some of the others detained had been involved in checking out the site a few days before the attack, the prime minister said. | The said the four suspects range in age from 26 to 34 and are part of a "radical religious group," he said, adding that one had confessed to accompanying the actual assassin. At least some of the others detained had been involved in checking out the site a few days before the attack, the prime minister said. |
| Belaïd was shot four times as he got in his car outside his house. The suspect involved in the actual attack took part in a re-enactment of the crime scene outside Belaïd's home on Tuesday wearing a mask and under heavy police guard. | Belaïd was shot four times as he got in his car outside his house. The suspect involved in the actual attack took part in a re-enactment of the crime scene outside Belaïd's home on Tuesday wearing a mask and under heavy police guard. |
| "It was an ignoble crime with repercussions on the country's security and social peace, and has threatened to take us into chaos and the unknown," Larayedh said. The assassination resulted in the resignation of the country's prime minister and Larayedh has been appointed his successor to form a new coalition government. | "It was an ignoble crime with repercussions on the country's security and social peace, and has threatened to take us into chaos and the unknown," Larayedh said. The assassination resulted in the resignation of the country's prime minister and Larayedh has been appointed his successor to form a new coalition government. |
| Authorities have also discovered many weapons caches and clashed with militants crossing into the country from neighboring Algeria and Libya. Larayedh said he believes some of the weapons were to carry out terrorist attacks inside Tunisia, while others were en route from Libya to Islamist militants fighting in northern Mali. | Authorities have also discovered many weapons caches and clashed with militants crossing into the country from neighboring Algeria and Libya. Larayedh said he believes some of the weapons were to carry out terrorist attacks inside Tunisia, while others were en route from Libya to Islamist militants fighting in northern Mali. |
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