Tunis — Thousands of supporters of Nidaa Tounes, the Socialist Party (PS) and the Democratic and Patriotic Labour Party (PTPD) marched, on Monday downtown Tunis, to mark the 2nd anniversary of the Tunisian Revolution calling for a civic and democratic State.

Heavy security was deployed to prevent clashes between supporters of the three parties and those of Ennahdha movement and Salafist groups who gathered around tents set up at the January 14 Square where religious songs and preaching sermons were heard via loudspeakers.

Demonstrators waved portraits of Leader Habib Bourguiba and union activist Ahmed Tlili and shouted slogans denouncing violence and extremism and calling for achieving the objectives of the Revolution, particularly freedom, dignity and employment.

At the end of the march, the situation almost degenerated into clashes when Islamist students belonging to the Leagues for the Protection of the Revolution, pulled down a flag of Nidaa Tounes and trampled it at the heart of Mohamed V Avenue, shouting slogans hostile to the party of Béji Caïd Essebsi.