TUNIS, Feb 13, 2013 (AFP)
Tunisia’s ruling Ennahda party has called on supporters to rally Saturday and back its “legitimacy” even as the prime minister, who belongs to the Islamist party, scrambles to form a new government of technocrats.
“Supporters of Ennahda must defend their revolution and the interests of the people,” Mohamed Akrout, an Ennahda deputy chief, said on in a video posted Wednesday on the party’s Facebook page.
Akrout said the rally would be held between 1230-1500 GMT on Saturday but did not identify the venue.
Pro-Islamist Facebook users expect the demonstration to take place on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in central Tunis, cradle of the 2011 revolution that ousted autocratic president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
The rally was aimed at “bolstering the legitimacy and realise the goals of the revolution,” said in the video.
The call comes after Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali warned of chaos in Tunisia and threatened to quit unless he can form a new government of technocrats — despite stiff opposition from Ennahda.
Jebali has been seeking political support for his plan to form a non-partisan cabinet line-up since the assassination last week of leftist opposition figure Chokri Belaid, threw Tunisia into turmoil.
Belaid was a vocal critic of the Islamic-led government and his family has accused Ennahda of being behind his murder. The party denies the accusation.
