Islamists clash with police

Police in Tunis used tear gas yesterday to try to disperse hundreds of Islamists who were attacking them with stones, knives and batons in the biggest clashes over religion in the Tunisian capital for several years.

The Islamists were protesting against a ban on women who wear the niqab, or full-face veil, enrolling in university, and the decision to broadcast animated film Persepolis which they said denigrated Islam.

Tension is mounting before an election later this month, the first since a revolution toppled Tunisia’s autocratic leader.