photo: AP / Amine Landoulsi
1:08
Tunisian Opposition Leader Chokri Belaid Killed
Tunisian Opposition Leader Chokri Belaid Killed
Leading leftist Tunisian opposition leader Chokri Belaid has been killed. His family has accused the country's ruling Ennahda party of being behind the death. Chokri, the secretary-general of the Unified Democratic Nationalist Party, was shot dead Wednesday morning as he was leaving his home in Tunis, his family said. "My brother was assassinated. I am desperate and depressed," his brother, Abdelmajid Belaid, told the AFP news agency. "I accuse ... [Ennahda leader] Rached Ghannouchi of assassinating my brother," he said. Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali also denounced the killing, but said the identity of the killer was unknown. "The murder of Belaid is a political assassination and the assassination of the Tunisian revolution. By killing him they wanted to silence his voice," said Jebali, who represents Ennahda, the party which won the first elections in Tunisia following the 2011 Arab Spring.
1:04
Video: Chokri Belaid, Tunisian Opposition Leader, Shot And Killed In Tunis By Gunmen On Motorcycles
Video: Chokri Belaid, Tunisian Opposition Leader, Shot And Killed In Tunis By Gunmen On Motorcycles
- published: 06 Feb 2013
- views: 25
- author: ViralBoss
Tunisian Opposition Leader, Shot And Killed Gunmen On Motorcycle 6/2/2013 A Tunisian opposition leader critical of both the Islamist-led government and of violence by radical Muslims was gunned down as he left home Wednesday -- the first assassination in post-revolutionary Tunisia. The killing of Chokri Belaid, a 47-year-old lawyer, is likely to heighten tensions in the North African nation whose path from dictatorship to democracy has been seen as a model for the Arab world so far. Police used tear gas to disperse the thousands of protesters that gathered in front of the Interior Ministry in the center of Tunis accusing the government of allowing the assassination to happen. They were gathered on the same broad, tree-lined boulevard where weeks of anti-government protests two years ago ousted Tunisia's long-time dictator -- and the crowds Wednesday even chanted the same slogan: "The people want the fall of the regime!" Like two years ago, police soon resorted to tear gas, sending people running for the shelter of nearby buildings yelling "No to Ennahda" and "Ghannouchi assassin," referring to the moderate Islamist party and its leader that dominate the elected government. Belaid had been a fierce critic of Ennahda, claiming that it turns a blind eye to violence perpetrated by extremists against other parties. His family said Belaid regularly received death threats -- the most recent on Tuesday -- but had refused to limit his high-profile activities. Interior Ministry
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1:04
Chokri Belaid, Tunisian Opposition Leader, Shot And Killed In Tunis By Gunmen On Motorcycles
Chokri Belaid, Tunisian Opposition Leader, Shot And Killed In Tunis By Gunmen On Motorcycles
A Tunisian opposition leader critical of both the Islamist-led government and of violence by radical Muslims was gunned down as he left home Wednesday -- the first assassination in post-revolutionary Tunisia. The killing of Chokri Belaid, a 47-year-old lawyer, is likely to heighten tensions in the North African nation whose path from dictatorship to democracy has been seen as a model for the Arab world so far. Police used tear gas to disperse the thousands of protesters that gathered in front of the Interior Ministry in the center of Tunis accusing the government of allowing the assassination to happen. They were gathered on the same broad, tree-lined boulevard where weeks of anti-government protests two years ago ousted Tunisia's long-time dictator -- and the crowds Wednesday even chanted the same slogan: "The people want the fall of the regime!" Like two years ago, police soon resorted to tear gas, sending people running for the shelter of nearby buildings yelling "No to Ennahda" and "Ghannouchi assassin," referring to the moderate Islamist party and its leader that dominate the elected government. Belaid had been a fierce critic of Ennahda, claiming that it turns a blind eye to violence perpetrated by extremists against other parties. His family said Belaid regularly received death threats -- the most recent on Tuesday -- but had refused to limit his high-profile activities. Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Tarrouch called the assassination a "terrorist act" and said
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3:46
La dépouille de Chokri Belaïd quitte clinique Mort de l'angoisse règne en Tunisie YouTube
La dépouille de Chokri Belaïd quitte clinique Mort de l'angoisse règne en Tunisie YouTube
Tunisian opposition politician Chokri Belaid has been shot dead outside his home in the capital, Tunis. Relatives say Mr Belaid was shot in the neck and head on his way to work. He was a prominent secular opponent of the moderate Islamist-led government and his murder has sparked protests around the country, with police firing tear gas to disperse angry crowds. President Moncef Marzouki has condemned the killing and is cutting short a visit to France to return home. Continue reading the main story " Start Quote This murder robs Tunisia of one of its most courageous and free voices" Francois Hollande French President In pictures: Politician shot dead He has also cancelled a scheduled appearance at a summit in Egypt to return home. Tunisia is currently gripped by political crisis as talks on a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle to include a wider range of parties in a coalition led by the Ennahda party have broken down. BBC Arabic's Wafa Zaiane says this is the first time a political leader has been assassinated since the Arab Spring uprising of January 2011, in a country where political assassinations are rare. Speaking in front of the European Parliament on his visit to Strasbourg, President Marzouki said the murder of Mr Belaid should not affect Tunisia's revolution. "There are many enemies of our peaceful revolution. And they're determined to ensure it fails," he said. 'Great anger' Referring to Mr Belaid as a "long-standing friend", he said his "hateful assassination" was
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3:55
Tunisia: Chokri Belaid assassination prompts protests
Tunisia: Chokri Belaid assassination prompts protests
Tunisian opposition politician Chokri Belaid has been shot dead outside his home in the capital, Tunis. Relatives say Mr Belaid was shot in the neck and head on his way to work. He was a prominent secular opponent of the moderate Islamist-led government and his murder has sparked protests around the country, with police firing tear gas to disperse angry crowds. President Moncef Marzouki has condemned the killing and is cutting short a visit to France to return home. He has also cancelled a scheduled appearance at a summit in Egypt to return home. Tunisia is currently gripped by political crisis as talks on a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle to include a wider range of parties in a coalition led by the Ennahda party have broken down. BBC Arabic's Wafa Zaiane says this is the first time a political leader has been assassinated since the Arab Spring uprising of January 2011, in a country where political assassinations are rare. Speaking in front of the European Parliament on his visit to Strasbourg, President Marzouki said the murder of Mr Belaid should not affect Tunisia's revolution. "There are many enemies of our peaceful revolution. And they're determined to ensure it fails," he said.'Great anger' 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. We reject that message and we will continue to unmask the enemies of the revolution," said the president, who was
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3:06
Tunisian Opposition Leader Critical Of Radical Muslims And The Islamist-Led Government Shot Dead
Tunisian Opposition Leader Critical Of Radical Muslims And The Islamist-Led Government Shot Dead
Chokri Belaid, Tunisian Opposition Leader, Shot And Killed In Tunis By Gunmen On Motorcycles A Tunisian opposition leader critical of both the Islamist-led government and of violence by radical Muslims was gunned down as he left home Wednesday -- the first assassination in post-revolutionary Tunisia. The killing of Chokri Belaid, a 47-year-old lawyer, is likely to heighten tensions in the North African nation whose path from dictatorship to democracy has been seen as a model for the Arab world so far. Police used tear gas to disperse the thousands of protesters that gathered in front of the Interior Ministry in the center of Tunis accusing the government of allowing the assassination to happen. They were gathered on the same broad, tree-lined boulevard where weeks of anti-government protests two years ago ousted Tunisia's long-time dictator -- and the crowds Wednesday even chanted the same slogan: "The people want the fall of the regime!" Like two years ago, police soon resorted to tear gas, sending people running for the shelter of nearby buildings yelling "No to Ennahda" and "Ghannouchi assassin," referring to the moderate Islamist party and its leader that dominate the elected government. Belaid had been a fierce critic of Ennahda, claiming that it turns a blind eye to violence perpetrated by extremists against other parties. His family said Belaid regularly received death threats -- the most recent on Tuesday -- but had refused to limit his high-profile activities
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