add new video playlist

• published: 06 Feb 2013
• views: 15
• author: earlynewzneeded

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 ...