Tunisia's ruling Islamic party committed to elections deadline

Tunisia's ruling Islamic party bloc at the Constituent Assembly said Tuesday that it was committed to speed up the amendment of the assembly's internal regulations with a view to hasten the adoption of a clear timetable next week, the official TAP press agency reported. In a communique released by the Ennahdha bloc on Tuesday, the party's representatives commit themselves to submit the country's new constitution by mid-April, its approbation by mid-July and to set up a clear date for the forthcoming legislative and presidential elections by mid-October. Ennahdha also calls on other parties represented within the 217- member assembly to avoid "sterile debates" and to take an active part in the assembly's sessions. It also reaffirms its attachment to dialogue and consensus around the constitution, as well as its determination to make the transition process succeed. Continuous delays in the writing of the new constitution and in setting up clear elections dates have aggravated the country's political crisis and considerably weakened the country's economy.