Tunisian Government Convenes Emergency Session As Protests Continue

July 29, 2013

Tunisia's government has held an emergency meeting to discuss mounting protests calling for the cabinet's resignation.

There were no reports about what was discussed at the session on July 29.

It came after an estimated 25,000 antigovernment and pro-government demonstrators gathered outside parliament late on July 28.

Riot police were able to set up barricades to keep the two groups apart, and on July 29 the authorities declared a main square in Tunis a "closed military zone."

On July 27, police used tear gas to disperse opposition demonstrators after the funeral of Muhammad Brahmi, the second secular opposition leader to be assassinated in the last six months.

Critics say the Islamist government of the ruling Ennahda party has failed to control Islamist extremists.

They are calling for the formation of a "government of national salvation."

Based on reporting by dpa, AFP, and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/tunisia-emergency-government-session/25060108.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.