LATEST: Egypt — 15 Arrested for Hijacking Car of Tamarod Spokesman, Mahmoud Badr

SUMMARY: Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in Tunisia on Monday, calling for the resignation of the coalition government.

The rally in the capital Tunis was the 40th day of mourning for opposition leader Mohammed Brahmi, assassinated in July.

The Government, led by the Ennadha Party, has blamed Salafists for the killings of Brahmi and another secular opposition leader, Chokri Belaid, who was slain in February.

The opposition coalition, led by the National Salvation Front (NSF), has accused Ennahda of failing to rein in radical Islamists and to improve the faltering economy.

Talks between the opposition and Ennahda have failed to achieve a breakthrough.


Turkey: Protestor Dies in Demonstration

A 22-year old protestor died after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister fired by police during a demonstration in the southern city of Antakya in the early hours of this morning.

Ahmet Atakan was taking part in a march to show solidarity with students and locals in Ankara protesting against construction of a road through Middle Eastern Technical University (ODTÜ), as well as to commemorate Abdullah Cömert, another Antakya local that was killed by police in early June at the beginning of the Gezi protests.

Egypt: 1 Soldier Killed in Attack on Military Checkpoint in North Sinai

One soldier has been killed and two security officers injured in a rocket-propelled grenade attack on an armoured vehicle stationed at a military checkpoint in North Sinai.

Egypt: 15 Arrested for Hijacking Car of Tamarod Spokesman, Mahmoud Badr

Fifteen people have been arrested for their alleged participation in an armed car hijack on Mahmoud Badr, the co-founder and spokesman of the Tamarod (Rebel) campaign.

Badr was not hurt in the incident, but had his car and belongings stolen. The attack, which occurred on Monday evening as he made his way home in Qalioubiya Governorate, is not believed to be politically motivated.

Turkey — Government Convenes “Summit” Over Halt to PKK Withdrawal

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has convened a “summit” of top Turkish civilian and military officials on Tuesday over the announcement by the Kurdish insurgency PKK that it is halting withdrawal of its members from Turkey.

The Government and the PKK have been in talks in an attempt to end a decades-long conflict over Kurdish autonomy.

On Monday, the PKK said it was stopping the withdrawal to northern Iraq because of Anakra’s failure to address Kurdish issues and to proceed with democratization.