Tunisia tries to reassure as Ennahdha presses for early elections

Largest political bloc ‘ready’ for legislative, presidential polls at it warns of the emergence of an ‘autocratic’ rule.

Tunisia’s foreign minister phoned his counterparts in the European Union, as well as Turkey and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to reassure them after the president suspended parliament and dismissed the government, the ministry said late on Tuesday, as the opposition called for elections. Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi said he explained that the extraordinary measures were temporary and that his counterparts pledged their continued support to the fledgling democracy. Earlier on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia affirmed its confidence in Tunisia’s leadership, according to the Saudi state news agency (SPA).