Hundreds of Tunisians, including political figures, gathered in the capital Saturday for a demonstration called by the Islamist party Ennahda in support of the Palestinian "uprising" against Israel.

The demonstrators assembled under close police surveillance in the city's main thoroughfare, Bourguiba Avenue, waving Tunisian and Palestinian flags as well as that of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

Ennahda MP Sahbi Atig said: "This is essentially a symbolic action to show our support for the Palestinian cause and uprising."

Houcine Jaziri, who had been in an Ennahda-led coalition government, said: "We are all united behind the Palestinian cause."

Violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since October 1 has killed 73 Palestinians -- around half of them alleged attackers -- an Arab-Israeli and nine Israelis.

Attacks and violent protests throughout October raised fears of a new Palestinian uprising, but violence had waned in recent days.

Source: AFP