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Tunisian parliamentarians call on interior minister to resign amid criticism

20 September 2012 18:53 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Members of Tunisia’s constituent assembly have called on Interior Minister Ali Laarayedh to resign following last week’s attack on the U.S. embassy in Tunis, the official TAP press agency reported Thursday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

A total of four people died and 48 were injured when angry mobs attacked the diplomatic compound in the capital last Friday to protest against an anti-Islam film produced by an American Coptic man.

During a hearing about the circumstances of the embassy attack on Wednesday, a number of parliamentarians strongly criticized the minister’s laxness as regards violent Salafist groups, as well as his incapacity to ensure the security of the embassy.

A number of them called for the appointment of an independent figure to head the ministry, adding that the security plan set up last Friday had been proved to be "an utter failure."

Others also asked for the setting up of an independent probe into the events to determine the responsibilities of each.

In response to the calls for resignation, Laarayedh said that his resignation "would not help Tunisia at this stage."

Meanwhile, during a press conference in Tunis on Thursday, head of the Nida Tounes (Tunisia’s Call) party, 84-year-old former Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi, said that it had became difficult to trust the interior minister any longer.

The veteran politician, whose party is poised to lead the opposition parties against Ennahdha in the next elections, also slammed the government "for not doing what they are saying."