OPPOSITION LEADER ASSASSINATED IN TUNISIA
Prominent Tunisian opposition leader Mohamed Brahmi was assassinated last week, raising tensions between the moderate Islamist Ennahda government and leftist and democratic parties. This marks Tunisia’s second assassination of a leading liberal politician in five months. Hundreds of demonstrators blamed the ruling Ennahda party and its followers for Brahmi’s death, and the government denied responsibility and condemned the assassination as an effort to disrupt Tunisia’s democratic transition. Earlier this month, at least eight Tunisian soldiers were killed in an ambush on the country’s northwestern border, further increasing tensions. While Ennahda’s followers include extremist sympathizers and former guerrillas from conflicts such as Afghanistan and Algeria, the New York Times reports that over the past months, “Even Ennahda’s critics acknowledged that the government was showing greater maturity.” (The New York Times July 25 and July 29, 2013)
CRACKDOWN ON TURKISH MEDIA
The past two months, Turkish journalists have become victims of Prime Minister Erdogan’s policy of illegalizing the opposition that has been gathering in Gezi Park to protest Erdogan’s rule. Erdogan has silenced critical voices inside his party and has used charges of an “international plot” as grounds to clamp down on Turkish media. Last week, the Press Institute Association issued a statement claiming that dozens of journalists have been fired, sent on compulsory leave, or resigned as a direct result of the government’s actions following the Gezi Park Protests. (al Monitor July 26, 2013)
SYRIAN GOVERNMENT TAKES HOMS
Last Monday, Syrian government forces took a key neighborhood in Homs following an air, missile, and mortar bombardment, effectively splitting the rebel fighting force in two. The victory was the culmination of an offensive launched a month ago. The Syrian government, with support from Hezbollah, has been gaining momentum in the conflict. A statement from the Free Syrian Army claimed “The Assad regime is attempting to lift the low morale of its militias by propagandizing and exaggerating its hollow victory in Homs.” However, a spokesperson for the FSA is quoted as saying “A lot of members of the Free Syrian Army have been wounded now...There is a shortage of fighters and very little ammunition. We are very worried.”(The Washington Post July 29, 2013)
COUP OR NO COUP
Obama Administration lawyers have found a way to avoid defining Egypt’s military overthrow as a coup, a designation would halt foreign aid valuing $1.5 billion dollars per year from the United States to Egypt. There is no requirement that would force the Administration to classify the takeover as a coup. And by withholding a judgment, the Obama national security cabinet unanimously concluded that there was no other strategy to maintain U.S. influence with Egypt’s generals, and to avoid additional violence. Despite some dissenting voices, Pentagon officials indicate that they plan to go ahead with a delivery of four F-16 planes. (The Wall Street Journal July 13, 2013)
UNREST IN BENGHAZI
Violence in Benghazi has continued to escalate following the recent assassination of a political activist. Earlier this month, protesters assailed a number of targets, including the Benghazi and Tripoli offices of the Muslim Brotherhood and the headquarters of a liberal coalition. Also, 1,100 inmates escaped during a riot earlier this month and two blasts targeted judicial buildings, wounding 43 people. A day later an unidentified group attacked the headquarters of the al-Watan political party and an Islamist party official was attacked and a soldier was killed. Prime Minister Ali Zeidan told reporters "People think the state is weak but the state does not even exist." To try to control the unrest, Libya's national assembly appointed a new Army Chief of Staff on Monday. "This escalation (in violence) will lead to a collapse of a whole nation,” Zeidan warned. (Reuters July 29, 2013)