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Tunisia police clash with Salafists over meeting ban | Tunisia police clash with Salafists over meeting ban |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Tunisian police have clashed with hundreds of hardline Islamists after the authorities banned a Salafist group from holding its annual meeting. | |
At least one protester died in the Tunis suburb of Ettadhamen and several police and protesters were injured. | |
Police also clashed with protesters in the central city of Kairouan where the Ansar al-Sharia meeting was planned. | |
The government banned the congress last week, saying it posed a threat to public security. | |
The group urged its supporters instead to gather for the meeting in Ettadhamen. | |
Some 500 supporters were reported to have descended on Ettadhamen on Sunday, erecting barricades and hurling stones at police who responded by firing tear gas. | |
The state news agency said that a 27-year-old man was killed and 11 policemen were injured in the running street battles that followed. | |
Police eventually forced protesters to retreat into the neighbouring district of Intilaka where sporadic clashes continued into the early evening. | |
A massive police presence in Kairouan also failed to prevent Salafists from gathering there. Scuffles broke out in the city centre as police used tear gas to disperse the stone-throwing protesters. | A massive police presence in Kairouan also failed to prevent Salafists from gathering there. Scuffles broke out in the city centre as police used tear gas to disperse the stone-throwing protesters. |
Ansar al-Sharia said its spokesman, Seifeddine Rais, had been arrested but it was not immediately clear why. | Ansar al-Sharia said its spokesman, Seifeddine Rais, had been arrested but it was not immediately clear why. |
The government on Friday said it was banning Ansar al-Sharia from gathering in Kairouan because it had "shown disdain for state institutions, incited violence against them and poses a threat to public security". | The government on Friday said it was banning Ansar al-Sharia from gathering in Kairouan because it had "shown disdain for state institutions, incited violence against them and poses a threat to public security". |
Ansar al-Sharia used its Facebook page to say it was moving its congress to Ettadhamen. | Ansar al-Sharia used its Facebook page to say it was moving its congress to Ettadhamen. |
Last year's congress in Kairouan attracted some 4,000 supporters. | Last year's congress in Kairouan attracted some 4,000 supporters. |
The governing Ennahda party was elected following the overthrow of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011. | The governing Ennahda party was elected following the overthrow of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011. |
It governs in coalition with two non-religious parties and has promised not to ban alcohol or impose the veil. | It governs in coalition with two non-religious parties and has promised not to ban alcohol or impose the veil. |
But Salafists want stricter Islamic laws imposed in Tunisia, and are demanding the introduction of Sharia. | But Salafists want stricter Islamic laws imposed in Tunisia, and are demanding the introduction of Sharia. |