Union: Tunisia to form new technocrat gov't in compromise to avert pending crisis

TUNIS, Tunisia – Tunisia's main labor union says the Islamist party dominating the ruling coalition has agreed to a new technocratic government to avert the crisis convulsing the country since the assassination of an opposition politician in late July.

Tunisia's secular opposition parties have been calling for the dissolution of the government and assembly elected in October 2011 over the assassination, which was the second in five months. Some have cited Egypt's military coup as a model.

The country's main union, the UGTT, has been brokering talks between the government and the opposition. Its deputy secretary general, Mouldi Jendoubi, told the state news agency Thursday that the Islamist Ennahda Party had agreed to a technocratic government.

Tunisia was the birthplace of the Arab Spring and its democratic transition is being closely watched.