The Tunisian prime minister, Hamadi Jebali, announced on Wednesday that the country would form a new government of non-partisan technocrats until elections could be held.
The sudden announcement came after killing of a leading opposition figure and anti-Islamist politican, Chokri Belaid. Belaid was shot in the head and neck in Tunis.
The incident sparked widespread protests, with people pouring out onto the streets as his coffin was carried through the streets. Gathering around the interior ministry, protesters had demanded that the government stand down and their be a second Arab Spring revolution.
The coalition of opposition groups - the Popular Front, which Belaid belonged to, called for a nationwide strike on Thursday to protest against his assassination.
Supporters of the opposition have accused the governing Islamist party, Ennahada, of orchestrating the killing.
