TUNIS - Tunisia's ruling Islamist Ennahda party on Thursday
rejected Prime Minister Hamdi Jebali's proposal to dissolve the government and
install a cabinet of technocrats in a bid to restore calm after the killing of
an opposition leader.
"The prime minister did not ask the opinion of his
party," said Abdelhamid Jelassi, Ennahda's vice-president. "We in Ennahda
believe Tunisia needs a political government now. We will continue discussions
with others parties about forming a coalition government." Jebali announced he
was dissolving the government on Wednesday after leading secular opposition
politician Chokri Belaid was gunned down outside his home in Tunis, sending
protesters onto the streets across the country.