Tunisia’s fledgling democracy suffered two major setbacks on Wednesday when its ruling Islamist government dissolved following the assassination of a prominent opposition leader earlier that day. In an effort to calm fierce protests over Chokri Belaid’s death, Tunisia’s prime minister announced on state television that a nonpartisan interim cabinet will replace the ruling party and that elections will be held as soon as possible. Belaid’s death marks the first political assassination in the country since its uprising two years ago, and highlights the country’s still-fragile political climate.
