France, EU, U.N. Condemn Killing of Tunisia Opposition Figure

French President Francois Hollande strongly condemned the killing of Tunisian opposition politician Mohammed Brahmi on Thursday and called on the country to unite behind its democratic transition.

"The president condemns in the strongest terms the assassination this morning in Tunis of lawmaker Mohammed Brahmi," Hollande said in a statement.

Hollande urged "all political and social forces in Tunisia to demonstrate more than ever the spirit of responsibility needed to preserve national unity and to guarantee the continuation of the democratic transition."

He called for "light to be shed as quickly as possible on this murder" and on the February 6 killing of another opposition figure, Chokri Belaid.

Meanwhile, the head of the European Parliament expressed his dismay at Thursday's "despicable" assassination of Brahmi.

"It was with profound sorrow that I learned of the despicable killing of our colleague," German Socialist Martin Schulz said, adding his "strongest condemnation."

Offering his condolences to the family and the nation, Schulz said Brahmi had dedicated his adult life to the pursuit of a "free, democratic and just Tunisia."

U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay on Thursday also condemned the Brahmi's killing, demanding an investigation into his slaying.

"I am shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Mr. Brahmi's assassination. I call upon the authorities to immediately launch a prompt and transparent investigation to ensure that the people who carried out this crime are held accountable," Pillay said in a statement.

Pillay noted that Brahimi's death was the third of a leading opposition figure since Lotfi Naghdh and Chokri Belaid were killed, in October 2012 and February 2013, respectively.

"The Tunisian authorities must take very serious measures to investigate these assassinations, identify the culprits and bring them to justice," she said.

"The government must take strong measures to show it will enforce the rule of law, and do its utmost to deter these terrible acts which appear to be designed to inflame the situation and undermine the democratic transition in Tunisia," she added.

The February 6 assassination of Belaid in front of his home sparked a political crisis in Tunisia and charges of government connivance.

Pillay also urged Tunisians to form a united front against what she called attempts to derail the country's democratic transition, which began with the January 2011 overthrow of strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Brahmi, a leading opposition figure and critic of Tunisia's ruling Islamists, was shot dead by unknown gunmen outside his home near the capital on Thursday.