Tunisian opposition agrees to transition talks

Tunisia's opposition coalition agreed on Friday to start direct talks with governing Islamists on a transition plan under which the government would step down and make way for a caretaker administration and new elections.

The agreement follows weeks of unrest that erupted after the assassination of an opposition figure in July. The secular opposition accused the moderate Islamist ruling party, Ennahda, of tolerating the Islamist militants it blamed for the assassination. (Reuters)