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| Tunisia PM forms new government after assassination | Tunisia PM forms new government after assassination |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tunisia is to form a non-partisan government of technocrats to run the country until elections can be held, the prime minister has said. | Tunisia is to form a non-partisan government of technocrats to run the country until elections can be held, the prime minister has said. |
| Hamadi Jebali made the announcement at the end of a day that saw a leading opposition figure killed and protests break out in several major cities. | Hamadi Jebali made the announcement at the end of a day that saw a leading opposition figure killed and protests break out in several major cities. |
| Anti-Islamist politician Chokri Belaid was shot in the head and neck in Tunis. | Anti-Islamist politician Chokri Belaid was shot in the head and neck in Tunis. |
| His killing was the first political assassination since the Arab Spring uprising of January 2011. | His killing was the first political assassination since the Arab Spring uprising of January 2011. |
| He was shot dead at close range as he left for work by a gunmen who fled on the back of a motorcycle. | He was shot dead at close range as he left for work by a gunmen who fled on the back of a motorcycle. |
| Announcing the new government in a nationally televised address, Mr Jebali said he had decided to form a government of "competent nationals without political affiliation". | Announcing the new government in a nationally televised address, Mr Jebali said he had decided to form a government of "competent nationals without political affiliation". |
| The new ministers would have a mandate "limited to managing the affairs of the country until elections are held in the shortest possible time," he added. | The new ministers would have a mandate "limited to managing the affairs of the country until elections are held in the shortest possible time," he added. |
| 'Odious assassination' | 'Odious assassination' |
| The killing of Chokri Belaid sparked an outbreak of anger across Tunisia. | The killing of Chokri Belaid sparked an outbreak of anger across Tunisia. |
| Thousands rallied outside the interior ministry, many chanting slogans urging the government to stand down and calling for a new revolution. | Thousands rallied outside the interior ministry, many chanting slogans urging the government to stand down and calling for a new revolution. |
| In the centre of Tunis, a police officer was killed during clashes between police and opposition supporters protesting against Mr Belaid's death. | In the centre of Tunis, a police officer was killed during clashes between police and opposition supporters protesting against Mr Belaid's death. |
| The interior ministry said the 46-year-old died after being hit in the chest by stones thrown by the protesters. | The interior ministry said the 46-year-old died after being hit in the chest by stones thrown by the protesters. |
| Shortly before the prime minister's announcement, confirmation came in that the army had been deployed in Sidi Bouzid, the birthplace of the Arab revolution. | Shortly before the prime minister's announcement, confirmation came in that the army had been deployed in Sidi Bouzid, the birthplace of the Arab revolution. |
| Mr Belaid was a respected human rights lawyer, and a left-wing secular opponent of the government which took power after the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. | Mr Belaid was a respected human rights lawyer, and a left-wing secular opponent of the government which took power after the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. |
| Tucked away between its oil-and-gas rich neighbours of Libya and Algeria, but lacking their resources, Tunisia has long been a backwater, but in recent years it has acquired an importance out of all proportion to its comparatively small population of a little over 10 million. | |
| Tunisia is where the Arab Spring began. The chain of events that led to the fall of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali sent shockwaves throughout the Arab world - most notably in Egypt, but also Libya, where Col Gaddafi came to a bloody end, and Bahrain, where the government's suppression of opposition protests caused it international embarrassment. | Tunisia is where the Arab Spring began. The chain of events that led to the fall of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali sent shockwaves throughout the Arab world - most notably in Egypt, but also Libya, where Col Gaddafi came to a bloody end, and Bahrain, where the government's suppression of opposition protests caused it international embarrassment. |
| It could be argued that government opponents in Syria and elsewhere were also at least partly inspired by the Tunisian example. So this latest killing is likely to send a chill up the spines of moderate reformists everywhere in the Arab world. | It could be argued that government opponents in Syria and elsewhere were also at least partly inspired by the Tunisian example. So this latest killing is likely to send a chill up the spines of moderate reformists everywhere in the Arab world. |
| The Popular Front (PF), a coalition of opposition groups of which Mr Belaid was a member, said it was calling for a nationwide strike on Thursday to protest against his assassination. | The Popular Front (PF), a coalition of opposition groups of which Mr Belaid was a member, said it was calling for a nationwide strike on Thursday to protest against his assassination. |
| Opposition supporters alleged the governing Islamist party Ennahada - which Mr Belaid frequently criticised - was behind his killing. | Opposition supporters alleged the governing Islamist party Ennahada - which Mr Belaid frequently criticised - was behind his killing. |
| But the party's leader Rachid Ghannouchi denounced the killing. | But the party's leader Rachid Ghannouchi denounced the killing. |
| The Islamist-led government said Mr Belaid's murder was an "odious assassination". | The Islamist-led government said Mr Belaid's murder was an "odious assassination". |
| 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. | 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. | "There are many enemies of our peaceful revolution. And they're determined to ensure it fails," he said. |
| Referring to Mr Belaid as a "long-standing friend", he said his "hateful assassination" was a threat. | 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," the president said. | "This is a letter being sent to us that we will refuse to open," the president said. |
| Mr Marzouki also announced that he was cutting short a visit to France and cancelling a trip to Egypt to return home to deal with the crisis. | Mr Marzouki also announced that he was cutting short a visit to France and cancelling a trip to Egypt to return home to deal with the crisis. |