(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Tunisia's Prime Minister Ali Larayedh says the Salafist group, Ansar al-Sharia, ‘is involved in terrorism,’ after its supporters clashed with security forces in the capital, Tunis.
Larayedh told Tunisian state television during a visit to Qatar that the Saudi-sponsored group is “an illegal organization which defies and provokes state authority.”
He added that the group “has ties to and is involved in terrorism.”
Clashes erupted earlier on Sunday when the extremist group called on its followers to assemble in the capital's suburb of Ettadhamen in defiance of a government’s ban on their gathering in the central city of Kairouan.
Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Salafists who set up barricades in the streets of Ettadhamen that is a poor neighbourhood 15 kilometres (9 miles) west of Tunis. They hurled rocks at the police.
The security forces used armored cars and bulldozers in an effort to demolish the barricades and gain access to Ettadhamen.
Meanwhile, a young Tunisian was killed in the street battles in the capital and 11 policemen were also injured.
The Tunisian government banned Ansar al-Sharia group from holding its annual congress in Kairouan, saying it posed “a threat to public order.”
Tunisia's ruling party Ennahda was elected following the ouster of former dictator, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.
He fled Tunisia to Saudi Arabia, after weeks of bloody protests over corruption, unemployment, and high food prices.
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Larayedh told Tunisian state television during a visit to Qatar that the Saudi-sponsored group is “an illegal organization which defies and provokes state authority.”
He added that the group “has ties to and is involved in terrorism.”
Clashes erupted earlier on Sunday when the extremist group called on its followers to assemble in the capital's suburb of Ettadhamen in defiance of a government’s ban on their gathering in the central city of Kairouan.
Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Salafists who set up barricades in the streets of Ettadhamen that is a poor neighbourhood 15 kilometres (9 miles) west of Tunis. They hurled rocks at the police.
The security forces used armored cars and bulldozers in an effort to demolish the barricades and gain access to Ettadhamen.
Meanwhile, a young Tunisian was killed in the street battles in the capital and 11 policemen were also injured.
The Tunisian government banned Ansar al-Sharia group from holding its annual congress in Kairouan, saying it posed “a threat to public order.”
Tunisia's ruling party Ennahda was elected following the ouster of former dictator, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.
He fled Tunisia to Saudi Arabia, after weeks of bloody protests over corruption, unemployment, and high food prices.
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