Tunisians march against rising political violence

A demonstrator leads other Tunisians who took to the streets of Tunis Monday Oct. 22, 2012, to protest against government policy. Tunisia will celebrate on Tuesday a year since its first free elections in a political climate marked by tensions within the national assembly, a stalled new constitution and sporadic violence.

Hassene Dridi, Associated Press

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Tunisians who took to the streets of Tunis Monday Oct. 22, 2012, take part in a demonstration to protest against government policy. Tunisia will celebrate on Tuesday a year since its first free elections in a political climate marked by tensions within the national assembly, a stalled new constitution and sporadic violence.

Hassene Dridi, Associated Press

2 of 3

Hooded riot policemen guard the building of the Interior Ministry in Tunis, Tunisia, Monday Oct. 22, 2012, as thousands of Tunisians took to the streets to protest against government policy. Tunisia will celebrate on Tuesday a year since its first free elections in a political climate marked by tensions within the national assembly, a stalled new constitution and sporadic violence.

Hassene Dridi, Associated Press

3 of 3

TUNIS, Tunisia — Thousands of people decrying growing violence in Tunisian politics have marched in the capital saying the nation's nascent democracy is at risk.

Monday's march came four days after the death of a union leader during a protest that turned violent. Nine people were injured in the small protest in Tataouine, in the south, and the union leader died of what the Interior Ministry said was a heart attack.

Opposition party offices in Tunisia also have been attacked.

Some 4,000 people marched down central Tunis's main avenue, among them former Central Bank Governor Mustapha Kamel Nabli who called for "peace and concord" in this "critical period."

Tunisians overthrew dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011. But the new, democratically elected government faces persistent social unrest, often over economic issues.

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