Lebanese supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad fired heavy machine guns and lobbed mortar shells at each other Thursday in some of the worst fighting in the port city of Tripoli in years.TUNIS, Tunisia – A Tunisian opposition party says its leader, who had criticized the Islamist-led government and violence by radical Muslims, has been shot to death outside his home.
The Unified Democratic Nationalist Party says Chokri Belaid was shot as he left his house in the capital Tunis on Wednesday. Witnesses say he was taken to a nearby clinic and died.
Belaid had been critical of Tunisia’s leadership, especially the moderate Islamist party Ennahda that dominates the government.
Government spokesman Samir Dilou called it an “odious crime.”
The reason for the killing is unclear. It comes as Tunisia struggles with social and religious tensions after its longtime dictator was overthrown in an uprising two years ago that set off revolts across the Arab world.
