Tunisia Ennahda chief says protests will not topple government

TUNIS - Agence France-Presse

People gather outside the Constituent Assembly headquarters during a protest to demand the ouster of the Islamist-dominated government, in Tunis in this July 28, 2013 file photo. Picture taken July 28, 2013. REUTERS/Anis Mili/Files

Tunisia's Islamist ruling party chief has said the government will not step down under pressure from the opposition, even as fresh protests were being readied Tuesday to demand just that.

Rached Ghannouchi's remarks, published by La Presse newspaper, will likely deepen a crisis that has gripped the North African nation since a political assassination in February was followed by another last month.

"There are excessive demands at protests for the dissolution of the elected government," Ghannouchi told La Presse.

"In democratic regimes, protests don't change governments; it's under dictatorial regimes that a demonstration is able to topple a regime.

"Unfortunately every time a tragedy hits us, we immediately call for the dissolution of the government and parliament," Ghannouchi added.

Massive protest planned

A mixed bag of opposition parties, running from the extreme left to the centre-right, is planning a massive protest in Tunis at 2000 GMT to mark six months since opposition politician Chokri Belaid was gunned down outside his home.
 
Government detractors say the Ennahda-led cabinet has failed to rein in radical Islamists blamed for Belaid's murder and the assassination of MP Mohamed Brahmi on July 25.

They are also calling for the dissolution of the National Constituent Assembly, which was elected nearly two years ago and has still not managed to complete its task of writing a new constitution.

The NCA was due to gather on Tuesday to discuss the crisis.

The powerful, half-million strong Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), has issued a call for its members to join Tuesday night's demonstration. However, it does not back demands for the NCA to be dissolved.

Protests after Brahmi's murder
 
Tunisia has been rocked by anti-government protests since Brahmi's murder, and protesters have clashed with police who used tear gas to disperse them.

Authorities said Brahmi was murdered with the same gun used to kill Belaid.

On Sunday Prime Minister Ali Larayedh announced the first arrest of a suspect in the Belaid case.
 
Larayedh has also ruled out the government's resignation, offering instead to broaden the coalition and calling for a general election in December.
 
In an interview published by Belgian daily Le Soir on Monday, Ghannouchi also called for a referendum to give voters the chance to have their say in the standoff between the cabinet and protesters.

"Tunisians would pronounce on whether they support or oppose the process under way," he said.

Al-Qaeda hunt

As the political crisis festers, security forces are pressing their hunt for militants linked to Al-Qaeda holed up in the rugged Mount Chaambi region near the Algerian border.

Two soldiers killed when their armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb on Sunday were buried after a memorial ceremony attended by both Larayedh and President Moncef Marzouki.

The military has been hunting the militants since December, and stepped up its offensive after eight soldiers were killed in an ambush on July 29.