MIDOUNE, Tunisia: Hundreds of supporters of Tunisia’s Islamist ruling party attacked members of a secular opposition party and besieged the hotel where they were meeting yesterday, a correspondent said.
The demonstrators brandishing banners hostile to the Nidaa Tounes (Call of Tunisia) party first gathered outside the Hotel Midoune on Djerba island but then broke through a police cordon and stormed into the hotel.
They broke into the hall where the meeting was being held, bringing it to an abrupt close.
The meeting was to mark the end of 40 days of mourning after the death of Lotfi Naguedh, who the party claims was beaten to death in October during a demonstration in the southern city of Tataouine. Earlier, some demonstrators also threw rocks at officials of the opposition party, and several hotel windows were broken.
By mid-afternoon, the opposition activists and many journalists were blockaded inside the hotel.
AFP
