Tunisians attend slain MP funeral

The body of the assassinated leading Tunisian opposition figure Mohamed Brahmi has been taken for burial as anger persists over his killing.

Thousands of Tunisians attended the funeral ceremony of slain opposition leader in the capital Tunis on Saturday. Brahmi’s supporters– including his friends and family members, have taken part in the funeral procession under armed escort.

His assassination has triggered nationwide demonstrations, with protesters calling on the government to step down. Several opposition groups have staged protests and a general strike over the latest political assassination in the North African country.

At least one protester has also died and several others injured during clashes with security forces.

The developments come after heavily-armed gunmen on Thursday shot and killed Brahmi in the second such assassination this year. In February, the murder of prominent opposition figure Shukri Balaid also sparked mass protests and forced Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali to resign.

The Tunisian Interior Minister Lotfi Ben Jeddou said on Friday that the assassination of Brahmi was the work of a member of the extremist Salafist movement, adding, “The first elements of the investigation show the implication of Boubaker Hakim, a Salafist extremist.”

The Interior Ministry also said the opposition politician was murdered with the same weapon used in the killing of another opposition figure Shukri Balaid February this year.

Tunisia, the birthplace of pro-democracy protests across North Africa and the Middle East, is struggling with a democratic changeover after the overthrow of its dictator in 2011.

Meanwhile, some opposition parties say they will launch an alternative government and force the current one to step down.

The moderate ruling party Ennahda was elected following the ouster of former dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in January 2011.

JR/SS