Tunisia on Edge as Protests Continue

Mischa Benoit-Lavelle

Feb 10, 2013

Supporters of the ruling Ennahda party walk past a Tunisian standing guard during a demonstration in Tunis February 9, 2013. Thousands of Islamists marched in Tunis on Saturday in a show of strength a day after the funeral of an assassinated secular politician drew the biggest crowds seen on the streets since Tunisia's uprising two years ago. About 6,000 partisans of the ruling Ennahda movement rallied in support of their leader, Rachid al-Ghannouchi, who was the target of angry slogans raised by mourners a — Supporters of the ruling Ennahda party walk past a Tunisian standing guard during a demonstration in Tunis, Feb. 9, 2013. — REUTERS/Louafi Larbi

TUNIS — As politicians debate Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali's proposal to replace Tunisia's ministers with non-partisan technocrats, Tunisia stands on the brink of its third transitional government in just over two years.

This latest change has been precipitated by the killing of leftist politician and human rights lawyer Chokri Belaid. Belaid was shot in the head and neck outside of his home Wednesday morning by two masked gunmen who escaped on a moped. The killing was quickly construed as a political assassination, a nearly unprecedented event in Tunisia which drew thousands into the street on Wednesday and tens of thousands to Belaid's funeral on Friday.