In the southern town of Gafsa, clashes erupted between groups of young people throwing stones and police using teargas to disperse them. However, the situation was calm in other parts of the North African state, which was the birthplace of the Arab Spring uprisings. There were concerns about more trouble due to calls for a general strike, and the funeral of the assassinated politician Chokri Belaid, scheduled for Friday, was seen as a potential flashpoint. Prime Minister Hamdi Jebali of the Ennahda party announced plans to replace the government with a non-partisan cabinet until elections could be held. However, there was opposition within the Ennahda party to this decision, with some members believing that Tunisia needed a political government immediately. The main opposition parties also rejected the idea of a government of experts and demanded to be consulted in the formation of any new cabinet. The ongoing political deadlock was seen as potentially worsening the unrest in Tunisia, highlighting the divide between Islamists and secular groups concerned about the future of freedoms and rights in the country. Chokri Belaid was assassinated by a gunman on a motorcycle as he left his home for work. The killing of a prominent politician sparked widespread protests across Tunisia, with demonstrators throwing rocks and clashing with police in scenes reminiscent of the unrest in Egypt. The ruling Ennahda party denied any involvement in the assassination, but their headquarters in Tunis was set on fire by angry crowds. The incident has reignited fears among Tunisians that religious extremists are threatening the freedoms gained during the Arab Spring uprisings. The interim parliament is set to discuss a proposal for a new technocratic government, but the country's political dysfunction may lead to further unrest and deadlock. The opposition is seeking to capitalize on the crisis for political gain, while concerns grow about the influence of radical Islamists on the democratic transition. International powers are urging Tunisians to resolve their differences peacefully, as economic concerns and frustrations over slow progress continue to fuel discontent. It remains lower than that of Egypt, which is experiencing unrest. However, Tunisia lacks the significant oil and gas resources of its neighbors Libya and Algeria, so tourism is a crucial source of income. Further unrest could deter visitors. After protests on Wednesday, Jebali announced that discussions on restructuring the government had failed due to disagreements within the coalition. A secular party threatened to leave unless Ennahda replaced some ministers. Opposition parties demanded that Jebali consult with them before dissolving his cabinet. Belaid, who was killed the day before, had been criticizing a culture of violence. He mentioned that Ennahda, along with its two smaller secularist allies in the coalition government, have shown tolerance towards Salafists, which has allowed the proliferation of groups that are against modern culture and liberal ideas. Similar to Egypt, secular leaders have accused Islamists of trying to impose strict religious beliefs in the new state. This disagreement has delayed an agreement on a constitution for a parliamentary election that was expected to take place by June. However, unlike Egypt's government, Ennahda has had difficulty forming a stable partnership with key state institutions, unlike the Muslim Brotherhood's relationship with the Egyptian military. According to risk consultancy Stratfor, this lack of reliance on the state security apparatus has left Ennahda with few tools to address the growing political opposition and popular demands for significant changes in the government.