Tunisian police arrest 4 accomplices in opposition leader’s murder

PanARMENIAN.Net - Tunisian police have identified the killer of opposition leader Chokri Belaid as a member of a radical Islamist Salafi group who is on the run, Prime Minister-designate Ali Larayedh said on Tuesday, February 26, Reuters reported.

Larayedh, who remains Interior Minister until his government is formed, told a news conference police had arrested four accomplices who are also ultra-orthodox Salafis.

The assassination of secular politician Belaid on February 6 provoked the biggest street protests in Tunisia since the overthrow of strongman Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali two years ago.

A security source said on Monday a Salafi had been arrested in connection with the killing, while Tunisia's Express FM radio cited a senior security official as saying police had arrested three Salafis, including a police officer, over the murder.

Hundreds of bystanders watched on Tuesday as two of the detained suspects re-enacted the shooting at the scene amid a heavy security presence, local media said.

The Interior Minister did not confirm the Express FM report that one of those detained was a police officer.