Tunisian police use teargas to disperse protesters in Tunisia

Government spokesman Samir Dilou called the attack against Belaid an "odious crime."

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry said the man who shot Tunisian opposition figure fled on a motorcycle ridden by an accomplice.
   
"A man opened fire on Chokri Belaid and then fled with a second person who was waiting motorcycle," Khaled Tarouch, ministry spokesman, said without giving further details.
  
Police have yet to arrest any suspects.
       
The reason for the killing is unclear. It comes as Tunisia is struggling to maintain stability and revive its economy after its longtime dictator was overthrown in an uprising two years ago. That revolution set off revolts across the Arab world and unleashed new social and religious tensions.            

Belaid had been critical of Tunisia's leadership, especially the moderate Islamist party Ennahda that dominates the government. He had accused authorities of not doing enough to stop violence by ultraconservatives who have targeted mausoleums, art exhibits and other things seen as out of keeping with their strict interpretation of Islam. Radicals disrupted a recent rally Belaid led in northern Tunisia.

The Islamist party that heads Tunisia's governing coalition party said it had nothing to do with the shooting death on Wednesday of secular opposition figure Shokri Belaid.
   
"Ennahda is completely innocent of the assassination of Belaid ... Is it possible that the ruling party could carry out this assassination when it would (only) disrupt investment and tourism?" party president Rached Gannouchi told Reuters in an interview.
   
He blamed those seeking to derail Tunisia's democratic transition after a 2011 uprising. "Tunisia today is in the biggest political stalemate since the revolution. We should be quiet and not fall into a spiral of violence. We need of unity more than ever," Gannouchi said.


AP/REUTERS