Tunisia Islamists say no new gov't as crisis grows Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 6:48 pm, Thursday, February 7, 2013 TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia sank deeper into political crisis Thursday, as the ruling Islamist party rejected its own prime minister's decision to replace the government after the assassination of a leftist politician led to a wave of angry protests. The murder of Chokri Belaid, a 48-year-old secularist and a fierce critic of hardline Islamists as well as the more moderate ruling party, laid bare the challenges facing this nation of 10 million, whose revolution two years ago sparked the Arab Spring uprisings. Because of its small, well-educated population, there were hopes Tunisia would have the easiest time transitioning from dictatorship to democracy. The state news agency TAP also reported clashes in cities across the country, with police resorting to tear gas and warning shots. U.N.