Tunisian union gives government 1 week to resign

Prime Minister Larayedh (R) with trade union leader Abbassi Tunisia’s powerful union federation gave the government one week to step down on Friday, demanding a technocratic government be put in its place. The news came a day after Tunisia's leaders started talks with opposition and civil society representatives to try to defuse the country's latest political crisis, prompted by last week's murder of an opposition MP.
The 600,000-strong Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) called for a transitional government to be put in place, tasked with completing the constitution and drafting new election laws within a short time scale.    
"[We] will continue to hold talks and if our demands of changing the government and implementing a time frame for the Constituent Assembly [are not met], then we will have other options that we will be forced to consider," the UGTT's deputy leader, Bou Ali Mbarki, told local Nesma TV, Reuters reported.
UGTT Secretary General Houcine Abassi met with Islamist Prime Minister Ali Larayedh on Thurday, with neither revealing what was discussed.
But Social Affairs Minister Khalil Zaouia said "the meeting was long, in order to evaluate the current situation and solutions for ending the crisis and for fighting terrorism."
Thursday’s talks came as supporters and critics of the government continue to hold street protests every night after breaking the Ramadan fast, particularly in Bardo Square outside parliament.
President Moncef Marzouki, a secular ally of the ruling Islamist Ennahda party, met leaders of the Republican Party, who are demanding "a national salvation government" led by an independent, a video released by the presidency showed.
Maya Jribi, a Republican leader, said "the rescue of Tunisia lies in the formation of a national salvation government headed by an independent and consensual personality whose members will not stand in the forthcoming elections, with a programme to combat terrorism and political violence."
Marzouki did not comment.
Mohamed Hamdi, member of the Democratic Alliance, called for "a government of skills" and a team of leading political figures to support it, particularly in drafting a new constitution.
The secular Ettakatol party, Ennahda's coalition partner, has also demanded the government's departure.
Larayedh has refused to step down, promising a new constitution by August and elections in December.
But the proposed constitution does not enjoy consensus, and 60 deputies have demanded the dissolution of the transitional constituent assembly.
On Wednesday night, thousands of supporters and critics of the government held demonstrations.
Ennahda party has also called for a rally on Saturday night at the central Kasbah square to support "legitimacy and institutions and to denounce violence and terrorism."
The Thursday killing of Mohammed Brahmi, the second assassination of an opposition figure since February, has fuelled growing calls for the resignation of the coalition government headed by Ennahda.
Many Tunisians blame the government for the two killings, particularly for failing to rein in radical Islamists accused of a wave of attacks since strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was toppled in a popular uprising in 2011.
Tension is mounting as Tunisia was in national mourning for eight soldiers slain by militants near the Algerian border.
On Wednesday, a roadside bomb went off as a national guard patrol passed south of Tunis early on Wednesday without causing any casualties or damage.
Ennahda is seeking to defuse the crisis by calling for a new national unity government that would include more parties.
Source: AFP