TUNIS: Renewed street protests in the Tunisian capital have put pressure on authorities to hold elections in two months' time even if this could risk more instability in the long run. Smaller, less mobilised parties have misgivings about the timetable for the vote, which will elect an assembly to rewrite the constitution. Others worry Tunisia is ill-prepared to hold a country-wide democratic ballot after decades of autocracy. But with tensions high ahead of the July 24 vote, anything more than a small delay could trigger further unrest in a country still trying to restore order after the January overthrow of president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Police dispersed scores of protesters with tear gas in Tunis on Sunday after four days of demonstrations and arrested around 600 across the country, including in overnight raids. An overnight curfew has been in place since last week. Protesters fear the interim goverment may go back on its promise to help lead Tunisia towards democracy after decades of one-party rule. “The election needs to be done on July 24, they need to work towards this so that there is a stabilisation,” law professor Kais Said said. Prime Minister Beji Caid Sebsi has raised the possibility the vote could be delayed because of technical difficulties but he was quick to issue reassurances on Tunisian television that authorities were aiming for the scheduled date.
