Tunis, Tunisia -- Another day of
demonstrations in Tunisia's capital city
commenced Wednesday, a peaceful rally in a city
wracked by violent protests.
A crowd that grew to about 1,000 people
tramped down Avenue Habib Bourguiba, singing
the country's national anthem and chanting
against the former ruling party and the former
president, who fled the country last week amid
the country-wide grass-roots uprising
The people strode to a police line and met the
officers eyeball to eyeball, but there was no
conflict. Witnesses said the police demeanor
appeared more relaxed than in previous days
with the officers holding their ground but not
acting aggressively.
This is in contrast to other days in Tunis, when
police lobbed tear gas and dispersed peaceful
throngs of marchers with batons.
As protesters chanted, an army helicopter flew
over the city and that drew a cheer from the
crowd, which views the army as a calming factor
in the street conflict and sees the police as aligned
with former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and
his Constitutional Democratic Rally party.
This comes as Tunisian officials attempt to keep
afloat the country's unity government, formed
earlier this week with members of the opposition
and the Ben Ali party.
But there have been difficulties in getting that
administration going because protesters are
demanding that more should be done to sweep
the old guard out of power.
Tunisia's interim president and prime minister
resigned from the ousted leader's ruling party,
state TV said Tuesday, a move seen as a gesture
to placate angry street demonstrators and keep
the unity government afloat.
But at least four ministers from opposition parties
have pulled back from the new government,
leaving some observers concerned that the
coalition may collapse before it can set up new
elections.
Asked whether the unity government will
collapse if demonstrations continue, Minister of
Social Affairs Moncer Rouissi said that everyone
has the right to demonstrate but that will not stop
the government from fulfilling its duties.
Source: Http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/19/tunisia.protests/
demonstrations in Tunisia's capital city
commenced Wednesday, a peaceful rally in a city
wracked by violent protests.
A crowd that grew to about 1,000 people
tramped down Avenue Habib Bourguiba, singing
the country's national anthem and chanting
against the former ruling party and the former
president, who fled the country last week amid
the country-wide grass-roots uprising
The people strode to a police line and met the
officers eyeball to eyeball, but there was no
conflict. Witnesses said the police demeanor
appeared more relaxed than in previous days
with the officers holding their ground but not
acting aggressively.
This is in contrast to other days in Tunis, when
police lobbed tear gas and dispersed peaceful
throngs of marchers with batons.
As protesters chanted, an army helicopter flew
over the city and that drew a cheer from the
crowd, which views the army as a calming factor
in the street conflict and sees the police as aligned
with former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and
his Constitutional Democratic Rally party.
This comes as Tunisian officials attempt to keep
afloat the country's unity government, formed
earlier this week with members of the opposition
and the Ben Ali party.
But there have been difficulties in getting that
administration going because protesters are
demanding that more should be done to sweep
the old guard out of power.
Tunisia's interim president and prime minister
resigned from the ousted leader's ruling party,
state TV said Tuesday, a move seen as a gesture
to placate angry street demonstrators and keep
the unity government afloat.
But at least four ministers from opposition parties
have pulled back from the new government,
leaving some observers concerned that the
coalition may collapse before it can set up new
elections.
Asked whether the unity government will
collapse if demonstrations continue, Minister of
Social Affairs Moncer Rouissi said that everyone
has the right to demonstrate but that will not stop
the government from fulfilling its duties.
Source: Http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/01/19/tunisia.protests/
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