This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24644649
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tunisia security forces 'killed in militant attack' | Tunisia security forces 'killed in militant attack' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least seven police have been killed in Tunisia in clashes with Islamist militants, reports say. | At least seven police have been killed in Tunisia in clashes with Islamist militants, reports say. |
| A heavy exchange of gunfire was reported in the central region of Sidi Bouzid and at least two militants were also reported killed. | A heavy exchange of gunfire was reported in the central region of Sidi Bouzid and at least two militants were also reported killed. |
| The violence came as the Islamist-led government and opposition began talks to end months of political crisis. | The violence came as the Islamist-led government and opposition began talks to end months of political crisis. |
| Thousands of anti-government protesters marched through the capital, Tunis, calling on the prime minster to resign. | Thousands of anti-government protesters marched through the capital, Tunis, calling on the prime minster to resign. |
| Parliament speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar said he expected PM Ali Larayedh to announce his intention to stand down. | Parliament speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar said he expected PM Ali Larayedh to announce his intention to stand down. |
| A coalition led by the moderate Islamist Ennahda party was elected in 2011. Last month Ennahda agreed in principle to relinquish power, in an effort to end Tunisia's political deadlock. | |
| The crisis was triggered by the assassinations of two secular opposition leaders earlier this year. | |
| It has threatened to disrupt a democratic transition that began after Tunisians threw out their decades-old authoritarian government at the beginning of the 2011 uprisings, widely referred to as the Arab Spring. | |
| Militant groups | Militant groups |
| Since the 2011 revolt, Tunisia has seen a rise in attacks by militants. | |
| The latest violence comes just days after Tunisian security forces killed at least nine suspected Islamist militants who the authorities said had carried out a deadly attack on a police patrol. | The latest violence comes just days after Tunisian security forces killed at least nine suspected Islamist militants who the authorities said had carried out a deadly attack on a police patrol. |
| At least three other suspects were arrested in the operation in the Mount Taouyer area, about 70km (44 miles) west of Tunis. | |
| The interior ministry blamed militants belonging to the Salafist Ansar al-Sharia group, who were linked to the murders of prominent left-wing figure Chokri Belaid in February and opposition politician Mohammed Brahmi in July. | |
| Their deaths triggered mass protests against the government. | |
| Ennahda condemned the killings but the opposition accused it of failing to rein in radical Islamists - charges it strongly denies. | |
| Several other militant groups - including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - also operate in the region. | Several other militant groups - including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - also operate in the region. |