Jean-Claude Mignon, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), expressed his shock today at the murder of Chokri Belaid, a leading Tunisian opposition figure.
"I firmly condemn this despicable crime which is aimed at destabilising the democratic transition process in Tunisia and undermining the efforts of all those who are working for the defence of human rights in that country. This act will not lessen the resolve of the Tunisian people to consolidate democracy and the rule of law," he added.
"I am convinced that the population will respond to this cowardly murder with a sense of responsibility and restraint," he concluded.