Thousands of Tunisians flooded the capital in support of their Islamist-led government amid calls for its ouster. Members of the secular opposition have alleged the ruling Ennahda party orchestrated the murder of a prominent leftist politician.
Over 150,000 people flocked to Tunis’ central Kasbah Square,
brandishing Tunisian flags and shouting pro-government slogans.
The throng chanted “No to coups, yes to elections!”
referencing the untimely ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed
Morsi on July 3 by the army.
Tunisia’s secular opposition has also planned mass protests this
weekend, calling for the disbandment of the government. Prime
Minister Ali Larayedh has resolved not to step down and has
called on the protesters for calm.
"Tunisia is in need of national unity. I call for calm so that
the army and security forces can combat terrorism and not waste
its efforts on protests,” said Larayedh.
Larayedh held talks with senior politicians on Saturday in a bid
to help resolve the growing social unrest that followed the
murder of prominent left-wing politician Mohamed Brahmi a week
ago. However, the talks failed to produce any tangible result as
members of the opposition refused to attend.
Brahmi’s family and members of the Tunisian opposition have
alleged Ennahda’s complicity in his murder.
The politician was gunned down outside his house over a week ago
by two men riding a motorcycle. The government laid the blame for
the killing at the feet of Islamist extremists.
The murder of Brahmi mirrored the killing of opposition activist
Chokri Belaid, who was also shot dead outside his house six
months ago.
The opposition has been protesting almost daily since Brahmi’s
assassination, with demonstrators clashing with police. The have
called for mass protests on Sunday as a countermeasure to the
pro-government rallies.
Increase in extremism?
The Tunisian armed forces launched airstrikes against militants
who killed eight soldiers earlier this week in the deadliest
attack on government forces in decades.
Meanwhile, two bomb blasts targeted security forces in the
Tunisian capital during the week, the first attacks of their kind
to be seen in Tunis.
Furthermore, the Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that
“two dangerous terrorists" had been taken into custody for
planning an assassination attempt on a politician in the coastal
town of Sousse.