Tunisian opposition leader Chokri Belaid Shot Dead - Wednesday Feb 6,2013

Chokri Belaid, leader of Unified Democratic Nationalist Party,who had been critical of the Islamist-led government and violence by radical Muslims has been shot dead, leading to anti-government riots.

Chokri Belaid, leader of the Unified Democratic Nationalist party, was shot outside his home in the capital by a man who fled on a motorcycle on Wednesday Feb 6,2013 morning. He died in hospital shortly afterwards.
Chokri Belaid was killed today by four bullets to the head and chest … doctors told.

The man who shot Belaid fled on a motorcycle ridden by an accomplice, according to the interior ministry spokesman Khaled Tarrouch, who called the assassination a "terrorist act" and said the politician had been shot point-blank several times. Police have yet to arrest any suspects. 


Tunisians carry the coffin of assassinated opposition leader Chokri Belaid ahead of his burial at El-Jellaz cemetery in a suburb of Tunis

 

 

The killing triggered a 1,000-strong protest outside the interior ministry. Police used teargas to disperse the protesters.

The Tunisian Prime Minister, Hamadi Jebali, who heads the Ennahda-led government elected in 2011 in Tunisia's first post-Arab-spring election, said: "The murder of Belaid is a political assassination and the assassination of the Tunisian revolution. By killing him they wanted to silence his voice."

Tunisia in the Arab Spring

• Dec 2010: Trader Mohammad Bouazizi sets himself on fire in Sidi Bouzid, sparking anti-government protests, and later dies
• Jan 2011: Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali stands down as president after escalating protests and clashes
• March 2011: New technocratic government announced by interim president
• Oct 2011: Tunisians vote in first elections of Arab Spring
• Dec 2011: Ex-dissident Moncef Marzouki chosen as president, with Ennahada's Hamadi Jebali as PM
• May 2012: Salafi Islamists clash with police amid a row over alcohol sales
• June 2012: Mr Ben Ali is sentenced to life in prison over the killing of protesters in the 2011 revolution. Saudi Arabia refuses extradition
• Feb 2013: Opposition politician Chokri Belaid shot dead; PM announces plans for technocratic government, a move rejected by Ennahada.