Thousands gather for Tunisian opposition leader's funeral- Thousands flocked onto the streets of Tunisia's capital on Friday for the burial of a slain opposition leader whose murder plunged the country into a political crisis and fresh post-revolution violence.
Around 3,000 mourners gathered outside a public building in Tunis' southern suburbs of Djebel Jelloud where Chokri Belaid's coffin lay covered in flowers ahead of the afternoon burial.The Tunisian capital was at a near standstill amid a general strike called by the North African country's biggest union to protest his murder, blamed by the opposition on the ruling Islamist party, Ennadha.
Streets were deserted, shops shut and public transport at a minimum. The city's international airport was shut down and airport authorities said all flights to and from the capital were cancelled.
I'm genuinely heartened to read this. Good on all of them for being courageous enough to turn out and to stand up for what they believe. Excellent stuff.
06 Feb 2013, 7:32 am
