In Tunisia, pride at being the birthplace of the Arab Spring is wearing thin. Instability had been growing in recent months with a seemingly never-ending series of strikes.
But the 6 February assassination-style killing of socialist opposition leader Chokri Belaid nevertheless marked a step-change. This led to massive protests, particularly on the part of secular-leaning opponents of the governmening Muslim Brotherhood-linked Ennahda party. Strikes took place in several cities on 7 February, with a general strike on 8 February marking the funeral of Mr Belaid. (CONTINUED - 819 WORDS)
