Tunisia violence to stop elections - PM
2011-07-19 07:38
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Tunis - A new outbreak of deadly violence in Tunisia is designed to prevent the country from holding its first post-revolution elections, Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi said on Monday.
"There were disturbances aimed at preventing elections," he said during an address to the nation. "These elections will be held on October 23 as scheduled."
He said that "some parties and marginal groups are not ready for the elections", pointing to the "strange" timing of the violent incidents that occurred across the country over the past few days.
The leader's address from government headquarters in Tunis was broadcast across television and radio stations.
It follows a string of incidents fuelling growing fears that the revolution's gains were being rolled back.
A 14-year-old boy was killed on Monday by a ricocheting bullet when police opened fire to break up a protest in Sidi Bouzid, the town where Tunisia's uprising erupted in December.
"We want to see all political parties condemning these events," said the prime minister.
