Tens of Thousands turnout for Chokri Belaid's funeral

In potest after the assassination of Chokri Belaid, four secular opposition groups - the Popular Front, Al-Massar (left), the Republican Party and Nidaa Tounès (center) - have called for a general strike and suspended their participation in the National Constituent Assembly.The  trade Union body the UGTT  has called a national strike for today,the first in 35 years.

There has been widespread violence  and a number of Ennhada offices have been burnt across the country  and a policenman was killed during rioting in central  yesterday. The people Tunisian people find themselves chanting and calling for the fall of the government just as they did against Ben Ali almost two years ago with the police firing tear  gas.Gafsa and Siliana have seen widespread violence and an atmosphere prevails in Tunis with fears that further violence could erupt following Friday prayers.

It is difficult to see how a reconciliation can be achieved  and the situation remains deadlocked. Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali could submit his resignation and that of his government and then be asked to form a new government by President Moncef Marzouki.However, Ennhada is determined to hold on to the posts of Minister of Justice and Minister of the Interior.  It is not prepared to throw away what it has gained in terms of power so far. It may be that Ennhada splits between pro and  anti Jebali factions and Hamadi Jebali's position in the party may be indoubt. The situation is beginning to ressemble some aspects of the Egyptian situation in terms of chaos, polaristion and the division between Islamists and secular parties. However the violence has not yet seen the same explosion as in  Cairo.