Tunisia braced for renewed protests and calls for the government to resign on 26 July following the assassination of a second leftist politician this year in a fusillade of bullets. Thousands demonstrated around the country, holding the ruling Ennahda Party responsible for the assassination and attacking local party headquarters. Police used tear gas in central Tunis and in the provinces to disperse the protests.
The slaying of Mohammed Brahmi of the leftist Popular Current party raised fears of new chaos in the country that unleashed the Arab Spring. Tunisia is working toward enshrining a new constitution meant to lead the way to lasting democracy and so far has avoided the widespread violence and unrest in countries like Egypt and Libya.