Tunisia mourns murdered politician Chokri Belaid

housands of Tunisians have attended the funeral of opposition leader Chokri Belaid, who was killed on Wednesday by a gunman who fled on a motorcycle.

There were minor clashes as his coffin was carried through Tunis, but the event was largely peaceful.

Sporadic protests and clashes have been reported all around Tunisia, and many workers are observing a general strike.

Unions say the Islamist-led government is to blame for the killing, an accusation it denies, BBC reports.

Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali has tried to defuse tensions by announcing he would form a non-partisan, technocratic government.

His governing Ennahda party has rejected this. But Mr Jebali on Friday told reporters he would go ahead with his plan, saying a technocratic government would not require the approval of the constituent assembly.

A number of flights to and from Tunis-Carthage airport have been cancelled.

Tunisian state television said universities had been ordered to suspend lectures on Saturday and Sunday, while France said it would close its schools in Tunis.

In the city of Sidi Bouzid, some 10,000 people also gathered to mourn Mr Belaid.

In the central town of Gafsa, tear gas was fired amid clashes between protesters and security forces, witnesses and local media said.