PM: New Tunisia violence aimed at halting elections

Among the rising violence is the death on of a 14-year-old boy in Sidi Bouzid, where Tunisia's revolution erupted

AFP , Monday 18 Jul 2011

A new outbreak of deadly violence in Tunisia is designed to prevent the country 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 fueling growing fears that the revolution's gains were being rolled back.

A 14-year-old boy was killed 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.

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