TUNIS
Tunisia's ruling Ennahda Party said Wednesday that it accepted the suspension of the works of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA), despite some hesitation, which were frozen until the dialogue between political parties resume, urging for talks with its rivals to form a national unity government.
Issuing a written statement, Ennahda leader Rasheed Ghannouchi noted that it hoped for the decision, although regarded as inconvenient formally and legally, to encourage the political parties to take seat at the table of dialogue, paving the way for the required reconciliation in the North African country.
"Despite our formal and legal reservations about this initiative, we hope it will serve as a catalyst for political adversaries to sit down at the negotiating table," wrote the party statement.
Ennahda added that it hoped the assembly's suspension would lead to "the formation of a government of national unity," urging for an immediate schedule for NCA to resume its works as the basic authority in Tunisia.
Earlier on Wednesday, Tunisian Parliament Speaker and head of the Constituent Assembly Mustafa bin Jafar announced that Tunisia's NCA would have recess until sides start dialogue to break the political deadlock in the service of Tunisia.
Tunisia has been in an ongoing political turmoil since the February assassination of opposition politician Chokri Belaid.
Ennahda said it hoped for "a consensus solution during this sensitive time because of security problems and major economic challenges."
The statement also stressed that the party supported "a national unity government comprising all those political forces convinced of the need to let the democratic process take its course" under the law.
The NCA has failed, since its election in 2011, to hammer out a consensus on the new constitution following a revolution that ousted long-time President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.
Tens of thousands of Tunisians poured onto the streets of Tunis to demand the government's resignation on Tuesday.
Following the death of Tunisian politician and member of NCA Mohamed Brahmi, who was shot dead outside his home after the death of Chokri Belaid 5 months earlier, anti-government protests have been going on in Tunisia and demonstrators ask for the abolition of the parliament as well as the resignation of the government.
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