Tens of thousands of Tunisians poured into the streets of Tunis on Wednesday to demand the resignation of the Islamist-led government after the assassination of a prominent opposition politician.

Meanwhile, the country’s constituent assembly, which has been engaged in the task of writing a constitution, was suspended until the government and opposition open negotiations.

Fresh elections are due to be held in December, provided the new constitution is written. The constitution is eight months behind deadline, and political unrest has been ongoing in Tunisia since President Zine al-Abdine Ben Ali was overthrown by a popular uprising in January 2011.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

BBC:

The protest in central Tunis was called by the opposition to demand the assembly’s dissolution and the resignation of the government, and to mark the six-month anniversary of the assassination of prominent secular opposition leader Chokri Belaid.

The powerful Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) called on its 600,000 members to join the rally.

“The people want the fall of the regime,” the crowds in Bardo Square shouted.

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