There was no end in sight Tuesday to Tunisia's months-long political crisis after ruling Islamists and the opposition failed to agree on aTunisian independent premier following two missed deadlines.

The birthplace of the Arab Spring has been mired in political stalemate following the assassination of two prominent opposition leaders by suspected extremists earlier this year.

The opposition has accused the ruling Ennahda, a moderate Islamist party, of having failed to rein in extremists long-suppressed by former strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali as the country has been rattled by a string of attacks mainly targeting security forces.

Ennahda and the opposition opened hard-won talks on October 25 to form a government of independents, draft a much-delayed constitution and prepare for elections as part of a roadmap with a tight timetable.

But on Monday mediators from the powerful UGTT union confederation said the dialogue had been suspended after the two sides failed to agree on a new prime minister.

"If the parties cannot reach a consensus, we will assume our responsibility and present the names of people we believe are capable," UGTT head Houcine Abassi said.

However, any candidate would require the support of Ennahda and its allies, who won a majority in parliament in the first elections held after Ben Ali's fall.

The two frontrunners were opposition-backed 79-year-old Mohammad Ennaceur, and Ahmed Mestiri, an 88-year-old supported by Ennahda and its allies.

Both are well respected and served under the late Habib Bourguiba, who led the fight for Tunisia's independence and served as its first president for three decades from 1957.

But the opposition said Mestiri was too old and would be a puppet in the hands of Ennahda, which refused to budge.

"We don't see any reason to refuse the choice of Mr Mestiri," Ennahda chief Rached Ghannouchi told Mosaique FM radio.


"It is the duty of the Troika (the ruling coalition) to cede power only to a person known for his independence."

He went on to say that the national dialogue "will resume sooner or later, because the country desperately needs it."

The opposition blamed the failure of the dialogue on the ruling coalition, saying it had rejected several candidates.

"They are looking for any means to stay in power," said Hamma Hammami, a representative of the National Salvation Front coalition.

The opposition has demanded a new government of independents, accusing the current line-up of failing to combat extremists after the assassination of MPs Chokri Belaid in February and Mohamed Brahmi in July.