AFP (France), TUNIS AFRIQUE PRESS (Tunisia)
TUNIS – The General Union of Tunisian Labour called for a general strike Friday, after thousands took to the streets to protest the killing of secular opposition leader Mohamed Brahmi, the state-run news agency TAP reports.
People gathering in Mohamed Ali Square in Tunis (Photo – Ochlocratie via Twitter)
President Moncef Marzouki declared a day of mourning following the Thursday killing, AFP reports. Tunisair decided to cancel all flights to and from Tunisia.
Brahmi’s assassination sparked international condemnation, with the UN saying his death “must not be allowed to derail the progress that Tunisia continues to make in its democratic transition.”
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Brahmi was 58 – photo:Ahmed ABDELMOUMEN)
The ruling Ennahda party, a moderate Islamist group, denied accusations from Brahmi’s family that it was involved.
Later, Tunisia’s Interior Minister said Brahmi was killed with the same gun used to kill party leader Chokri Belaid who was killed 6 months ago.
Brahmi, 58, was shot 14 times on Thursday afternoon outside his home in front of his wife and daughter. This leader of the opposition Movement of the People party (part of the left-leaning Popular front coalition) was a member of the National Constituent Assembly, which is finalizing the drafting of the new constitution for Tunisia.
