20110408
reuters

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's prime minister suggested on Sunday that July elections for an assembly to draw up a new constitution could be delayed, potentially fuelling unease among anti-government protesters over the path to democracy.

The North African country has struggled to restore stability since a revolution in January ousted authoritarian ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and inspired uprisings across the Arab world.

Police in Tunis used teargas to break up a fourth day of protests by scores of youths who have returned to the streets, many of them deeply sceptical about the interim administration's promises to bring in democracy after the uprising.

After a night curfew imposed to bring order, security forces clashed with bands of youths setting out to loot and pillage in the more densely populated parts of Tunis. Shots were fired.

Prime Minister Beji Caid Sebsi said in a state television interview that Tunisia still aimed to hold an election on July 24, but for the first time he suggested the ballot could happen later.

"If the reform committee says there would be technical difficulties that would be another probability to look at," Sebsi said.

The government still has to set up a promised independent electoral body to prepare for the ballot.