Tunisian government struggles to respond to social unrest

Hundreds of people yesterday (23 October) marked the first anniversary of Tunisia's landmark October 2011 elections by staging a protest outside the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) in Tunis, accusing the government of failing to keep its promises.

Clashes between police and protesters in Tunisia have injured more than 300 people since the protests first erupted on 27 November, as local residents demanded remedy for a list of grievances. At the top of the list was the replacement of regional governor Ahmed Ezzine Mahjoubi; however, Tunisian prime minister Hamadi Jebali has repeatedly refused to bow to popular pressure and remove Mahjoubi. The deal struck between the government and Tunisia's largest union, the General Union of Tunisian Workers (Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail: UGTT), which lent its support to the protests, envisages sidelining Mahjoubi and allowing his deputy to take over day-to-day operations. The deal was cautiously welcomed by UGTT deputy secretary-general Belgacem Ayari, who told reporters it was a "positive step, pending concrete decisions". Nonetheless, local activists and UGTT officials continued to insist that the police reinforcements that have flooded Siliana in recent days should be withdrawn. Local residents have blamed a heavy-handed police response for many of the injuries caused since the unrest began, although the authorities claim that the protesters attacked the police first.