Tunisians hold demo over slow probe into opposition leader murder

Thousands of Tunisians have held a demonstration in the capital Tunis to express their anger over slow investigation into the murder of leftist opposition leader Shokri Belaid.

The protest took place on Saturday where protesters reportedly chanted anti-government slogans. Reports say that some 3,000 people participated in the rally.

“I think the ruling party has a responsibility to find the murderer… It can’t put off the investigation again and again, as the case impacts the nation. I think (the ruling party) should give an answer as soon as possible,” said a protester during the rally.

This comes after Tunisian security forces arrested a number of suspects reportedly in connection with the murder of Belaid on Thursday.

Tunisia plunged into a political chaos after Belaid was fatally shot outside his home in the capital Tunis on February 6.

Belaid’s assassination triggered violent demonstrations across the North African country, with the headquarters of the ruling Ennahda party being attacked in more than a dozen cities.

On February 9, the ministry issued a statement saying that at least one Tunisian policeman was killed and 59 others wounded during the unrest sparked by the murder of Belaid. Some 375 people were also arrested, the statement added.

Opposition groups have accused Ennahda of being behind the assassination. However, the party’s leader, Rashid al-Ghannouchi, condemned the deadly assault and rejected the allegation.

Analysts believe the assassination was carried out to discredit Tunisia’s Islamist movement and to prevent the formulation of the country’s constitution according to Islamic law.

In January 2011, the country’s Western-backed dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, fled Tunisia to Saudi Arabia, after weeks of bloody protests over corruption, unemployment, and high food prices.

Tunisia’s first freely elected government was sworn in December 2011, a year after the start of a popular uprising that ended the 23-year authoritarian rule of Ben Ali.