Democracy to be protected at any cost: Tunisia prime minister
Tunisia’s Prime Minister Habib Essid says his administration is determined to protect democracy at any cost and nothing would come in the way of the country’s transition to a democratic state.
“I appeal for calm and for national unity and complete security across the country to preserve our nascent democracy which is the only example of success in the region,” Essid told a news conference on Saturday, adding that Tunisian democracy would not be destroyed “whatever the cost.”
The premier said he understood the demands of young Tunisians who have held demonstrations over unemployment and poverty over the past few days.
“There has been huge political progress but we acknowledge that there are lots of economic difficulties. We will respond to young people's economic demands but we need a bit of time for that,” Essid stated.
He added, however, that people seeking to “destroy the democratic transition” had taken advantage of the protests.
Tunisia imposed a nationwide curfew on Friday after riots erupted in the impoverished town of Kasserine, where banks and businesses were reportedly looted. Violence was reported in the capital, Tunis, on the same day. The Interior Ministry said about 70 people were arrested for damaging property or theft.
The unrest was triggered on January 17, when a young man who had reportedly been sacked from his government job protested by climbing a transmission tower and was electrocuted.
The Interior Ministry said the situation was relatively calm on Saturday across most of the country. Essid had cut short a visit to France on Friday to deal with the growing protests.
In early 2011, protests in Tunisia toppled dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. That sparked a wave of uprisings, called the Islamic Awakening, in other Arab countries against authoritarian rulers.
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