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Friday, October 19, 2012

Islamists kill secular politician in Tunisia during riot

Freedom of expression, Islamist-style:
Clashes between Islamists and secular opponents in the southern Tunisian town of Tataouine on Thursday left a secular politician dead, a local official and resident said.

The violence broke out during a march organized by a group of Islamists close to the Ennahda party, which leads Tunisia’s Islamist government. Protesters chanted slogans against the secular Nida Touns party, accusing it of being close to ousted leader Zine ElAbidine Ben Ali, a resident said.

The Islamist group, the Association for the Protection of the Revolution, was passing the building of the local Agricultural Union which is headed by the local representative of Nida Touns, when the clashes began.

“The coordinator of Nida Touns in Tataouine, Lofi Nakd, was killed after he was attacked,” Nida Touns official Khemais Ksila told Reuters by phone. A resident who gave his name as Samil Smida said knives and stones were used in the violence.

“The clashes broke out between Islamists and some people from Nida Touns,” he said. “The Islamists were chanting slogans against Nida Touns, calling them liars, telling them to leave. Those inside reacted, throwing stones and it all began.”
Notice how Reuters tries to be even-handed in describing the death as a result of "clashes," when it appears clear that the Islamists - carrying knives - were rioting against and besieging a group of people inside their workplace.