Tunisians warned on hardline Islamists

Tunisia’s president has warned hardline Islamists against imposing their views through violence.

Moncef Marzouki says attacking citizens for their ideological choices or labelling people unbelievers would not be tolerated.

He did not specifically mention the ultraconservative Salafi Muslims who have been demonstrating lately in Tunisia, but the remarks came at a ceremony on Sunday honouring the national flag. During a clash between leftist and Salafi students at a university last Wednesday, an Islamist student tore down the national flag and replaced it with one bearing the Muslim profession of faith.

The action has been widely condemned as an affront to the nation.

Mr Marzouki awarded a medal to a young female student who restored the national flag.