In the southern town of Gafsa, clashes erupted between numerous young people throwing stones and police using tear gas to disperse them. However, the situation was peaceful in other parts of the North African country that was the birthplace of the Arab Spring uprisings. The possibility of further trouble was raised by calls for a general strike, while the family of the murdered secular politician Chokri Belaid indicated that his funeral, which could be another potential flashpoint, might not take place until Friday. Prime Minister Hamdi Jebali of the Ennahda party announced on Wednesday that he would replace the government with a non-partisan cabinet until elections could be held soon. However, a senior Ennahda official stated that Jebali had not consulted the party, suggesting division within the Islamist group over the decision to change the ruling coalition. Tunisia's main opposition parties also opposed the idea of a government of experts and insisted on being involved in the formation of any new cabinet. Political analysts warned that prolonged deadlock could worsen the unrest, highlighting the divide between Islamists and secular groups who are concerned about the potential threats to freedom of expression, cultural rights, and women's rights, just two years after the fall of the Western-supported dictatorship. Belaid was killed by a gunman who escaped on a motorcycle as he was leaving home for work. The killing of a prominent politician sparked widespread protests across Tunisia, reminiscent of the unrest in Egypt. Although no one claimed responsibility for the murder, the ruling Ennahda party faced backlash, with their headquarters set on fire. The opposition pushed for a new cabinet, but the dysfunctional parliament raised concerns of prolonged deadlock and further unrest. Many Tunisians feared that religious radicals were threatening the freedoms gained during the Arab Spring uprisings. International powers urged for a peaceful transition to democracy, as concerns grew about the influence of hardline Islamists and the slow progress towards economic improvement. The crisis also led to increased investor fears, as the cost of insuring Tunisian government bonds against default reached a four-year high. It remains lower than that of unrest-racked Egypt, however, Tunisia lacks the vast oil and gas resources of neighboring Libya and Algeria, relying heavily on tourism for revenue. Further unrest could discourage visitors. After protests on Wednesday, Jebali announced that discussions on government restructuring had failed due to disagreements within the coalition. A secular party threatened to leave unless Ennahda replaced some ministers. Opposition parties demanded Jebali consult with them before dissolving his cabinet, with some calling for the resignation of the entire government. Belaid, who was killed the day before, had been criticizing a pattern of violence. He stated that the tolerance shown by Ennahda and its two smaller secularist allies towards Salafists has allowed the growth of groups that are against modern culture and liberal ideas. Similar to Egypt, secular leaders have accused Islamists of trying to promote narrow religious beliefs in the new government. This disagreement has delayed an agreement on a constitution for a parliamentary election, which was expected to happen by June. However, unlike Egypt, Ennahda has struggled to form a stable partnership with key state institutions, unlike the Muslim Brotherhood's relationship with the Egyptian military. According to a recent analysis by risk consultancy Stratfor, Ennahda's inability or unwillingness to rely on the state security apparatus has left them with limited resources to address the increasing political opposition and demands for significant changes in the government.