Return of 'fear' to post-Ben Ali Tunisia

Tunisia's Communist Workers' Party (PCOT) lamented Saturday the return of "fear, torture and insecurity" to the country in the run-up to October elections. Secretary general Hamma Hammami said the current climate was "not favourable" to a successful poll on October 23, when Tunisians will elect a Constituent Assembly in the first vote since the popular uprising which ended the 21-year rule of former president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. "Fear has returned, torture is reappearing," said Hammami, who blamed unrest in Tunisia on the increase in the cost of living. He made the remarks at the opening of a national conference marking the launch of a discussion on "successful conditions for the electoral process in Tunisia" organised by the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) and the Al-Jahedh Forum. Hammami urged political parties to safeguard national unity while accusing interim Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi of "wanting to break the mobilisation" born of the uprising. Islamist group Ennahda and the Democratic Forum for Work and Liberties are among the other parties taking part in the national dialogue. Representatives from the Progressive Democratic Party did not attend.