Tunisian PM accuses opposition of triggering chaos

Tunisian Prime Minister urged protesters to be patient Tunisian Islamist Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali accused opposition parties and unions of provoking violent clashes in the town of Siliana. He urged protesters in the north west of Tunisia to show patience in giving the government a chance to address the country's economic problems. The Tunisian army had to intervene between police and protesters in Siliana on Thursday to end three days of clashes as striking residents demanded jobs, government investment and the resignation of the local governor Mahjoubi.
Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali accused leftist opposition parties and unions of being behind the general strike in Siliana that degenerated into fierce conflicts with police, who tried to disperse protesters with tear gas and shotguns. "The only loser in these troubles is the democratic edifice that the government is trying to put into place," he said at a press conference on Thursday, "these people don't want democracy, just chaos and destruction," he continued. Over 15,000 people marched through the town Thursday to call for the governor's resignation, and the resulting riots left more than 300 people injured, with at least a dozen in danger of losing their eyesight from shotgun pellets. Sami Tahri, deputy secretary general in charge of information at the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), announced yesterday that many people are seriously injured, prompting the UGTT and locals of Siliana to protest against excessive use of force by security agents.
Rumours were circulating that the unpopular governor Mahjoubi, a member of the Islamist Ennahda Party that dominates the government, is a relative of PM Jebali. However Jebali firmly denied this on Thursday.
Residents of neighboring towns joined Thursday's protest march and there were also demonstrations in solidarity throughout the province and in the capital, including attacks on police posts and headquarters of the Ennahda Party. Jebali said there would be an independent investigation into the causes of the clashes, "We do not have a magic wand to satisfy all the needs of the population in just 10 months, but we are open to a dialogue with all parties," he said.
Tunisia's economy, based largely on European tourism and exports, has suffered after the revolution and with the European economic crisis. On Tuesday the World Bank approved a $500 million loan to help support reforms in the financial sector to encourage investment and growth.