TUNIS // Thousands of Tunisians marched through the capital yesterday calling on their government to step down.
The protest came hours before the ruling Islamists and opposition leaders were due to start talks aimed at ending months of political crisis.
The moderate-Islamist Ennahda party has agreed that the government it leads will resign in three weeks, making way for a non-partisan administration until new elections can be held in the country where the Arab Spring revolts began in 2011.
The North African country has been on edge since July, when Islamist militants killed an opposition leader, sparking street protests that threatened a democratic transition once seen as a model in an unstable region.
Ennahda has agreed to step down after negotiations take place to form a caretaker government, set up an electoral commission to organise a vote, and decide on an election date.
Waving the red and white national flag, and banners reading “No going back”, and “Leave”, several thousand opponents of Ennahda packed the central Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis to demand the party live up to its agreement to step down.
“There is no trust that this government will go,” said Saloua Faza, a teacher carrying a large Tunisian flag. “They have never shown us any good faith.”
The prime minister, Ali Larayedh, and party leaders have said they are ready to hand over power, but want conditions put in place for elections, including the new constitution and an electoral commission.
Nearly three years after the uprising that ousted the autocratic president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia’s political transition has been less chaotic than those in neighbouring Egypt and Libya.
Ennahda won 40 per cent in Tunisia’s first post-revolt election for an assembly to draft a new constitution, and formed an interim coalition government with two secular parties.
The process was delayed by the assassination of two opposition leaders, which enraged those who thought Ennahda was too easy on the hardline Islamists who were blamed for the killings and have grown in influence.
Six Tunisian police officers were killed in clashes with militants in the south yesterday. The violence came just days after 10 militants and two police died in a clash near the Algerian border.
* Reuters
UAE Falcons
Carly Lewis (captain), Emily Fensome, Kelly Loy, Isabel Affley, Jessica Cronin, Jemma Eley, Jenna Guy, Kate Lewis, Megan Polley, Charlie Preston, Becki Quigley and Sophie Siffre. Deb Jones and Lucia Sdao – coach and assistant coach.
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Jawan
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Tell Me Who I Am
Director: Ed Perkins
Stars: Alex and Marcus Lewis
Four stars
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
Race card for Super Saturday
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dh918,125) (Dirt) 1,900m.
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m.
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m.
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Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29 – Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30 - UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1 - UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2 – Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4 - Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6 – Final
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The five pillars of Islam
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae