Tunisian police use teargas to disperse protesters

Following the funeral of a slain opposition figure, hundreds of Tunisians headed toward the Constituent Assembly on Saturday to call for its dissolution, Radio Mosaique FM reported. Police used teargas to disperse the protesters, trying to prevent skirmishes between pro- and anti-Ennahdha protesters. Several tents set up by the sit-inners were dismantled, while main roads leading to the Assembly were cordoned off, Radio Mosaique reported. The assassination of Mohamed Brahmi, in many ways similar to the killing of Chokri Belaid nearly six months ago, triggered angry protests in many parts of the country, including in Brahmi's birth town, Sidi Bouzid, where residents torched Ennahdha's offices before occupying public buildings and calling for the dissolution of the government and of the Constituent Assembly. So far, some 52 opposition representatives (mostly from the Democratic Alliance) in the 217-member Assembly, have temporarily suspended their participation in the parliamentary body and called for the formation of an independent national union government which will ensure the rest of the transition and organize presidential and legislative elections before the end of 2013. Despite high temperatures, reaching 40 degrees Celsius, and the presence of the month of Ramadan, tensions were still running high throughout the country, amid fears of violence and political instability.