Tunisia gears for crisis talks

Delegates began gathering Saturday for the launch of a hard-won dialogue between Tunisia's ruling Islamists and the opposition aimed at ending a protracted political crisis. The crisis was sparked in July by the assassination of prominent MP Mohamed Brahmi, with the opposition accusing the moderate Islamist party Ennahda of failing to curb extremists they say were behind the murder. Delegates gathered at the Palais des Congres for a highly-symbolic ceremony, during which Ennahda must declare its willingness to resign and, along with the opposition, pledge allegiance to a roadmap on the country's political future. The talks, which begin in earnest next week and are due to run for a month, will focus on implementing the roadmap that calls for the formation of a government of independents, the adoption of a much-delayed constitution and set a timetable for new elections. "The presidents of the various political parties will sign on today" to the roadmap, the head of the Tunisian League for Hman Rights, Abdessatar Ben Moussa, told AFP. "Ennahda must pledge the government's resignation," he added. The League is among four groups which drafted the roadmap and mediated an agreement between Ennahda and the opposition to launch a national dialogue to implement its terms. Earlier this week, Ennahda and the secular opposition agreed on a blueprint for talks, also drafted by the main UGTT trade union and the employers' organisation Utica. The roadmap sets a three-week deadline to form a cabinet of independents to replace the Ennahda-led government, after the launch of a dialogue with opposition parties. It also sets a four-week deadline for adopting a new electoral law. Ennahda has been accused of mismanaging the economy and failing to rein in Tunisia's jihadist movement, which is blamed for murdering Brahimi and opposition MP Chokri Belaid, another prominent secular politician killed six months earlier. Saturday's ceremony will be attended by President Moncef Marzouki, Prime Minister Ali Larayedh, parliament speaker Mustafa Ben Jaafar, as well as party leaders. Political activity in Tunisia has ground to a halt since Brahmi's murder, holding up the formation of stable state institutions more than two and half years since the 2011 uprising that topped longtime strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and touched off the Arab Spring. Analysts have voiced cautious optimism over the national dialogue, saying there is still mistrust between Ennahda and its opponents.