Tunisian government dissolved after opposition leader killed - live updates Welcome to the Middle East live blog. Here is a summary of the latest developments: Tunisia Tunisia's ruling Islamists dissolved the government and announced an interim cabinet of technocrats would rule the country until early elections after the killing of an opposition leader sparked the biggest street protests since the revolution two years ago, Reuters reports. The prime minister's announcement late last night followed the shooting of Chokri Belaid, a leading left-wing critic, and running battles between police and protesters. Calls for a general strike today were expected to lead to more trouble, although Belaid's family said his funeral, another possible flashpoint, might not be held until Friday. Reporting from Tunis, the Guardian's Eileen Byrne said police used teargas to disperse the protesters, who were gathered on the same broad, tree-lined boulevard where two years ago anti-government protests led to the fall of Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia's longtime dictator. The crowds even chanted the same slogan: "The people want the fall of the regime." The city centre was left deserted and littered with stones, guarded by police armoured vehicles and patrolled by a tank from the national guard. Fierce fighting broke out in the Syrian capital, Damascus, as rebels attacked forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, the BBC reported, with much of the violence centred around the Jobar district and a key junction on the Damascus ring road. It was not clear whether the rebels managed to retain any territory and the Syrian army said it too launched an offensive. The violence came as the head of the main Syrian opposition alliance, Moaz al-Khatib, said his offer of talks with the government would be withdrawn unless women prisoners were released by Sunday. Members of the opposition Syrian National Coalition have called for an emergency meeting to discuss al-Khatib's controversial proposal, Reuters quoted opposition sources as saying. The moderate Islamic cleric said he would be ready to meet Assad's ceremonial deputy, Farouq al-Shara, if Assad fulfils conditions including the release of tens of thousands of political prisoners. "The Coalition needs to convene to chart an urgent strategy after the reverberations of the initiative and seize on the momentum it has created, regardless of the reservations of some members," one Coalition official said. Muslim summit Meeting in Cairo, a summit of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation called for a negotiated end to Syria's civil war. The Iranian foreign minister expressed optimism about prospects for a resolution; the head of the Syrian opposition said Iran was "making the decisions" in Damascus. The summit opened as Chokri Belaid's assassination in Tunisia underlined the fragility of the Arab Spring democratic revolutions. Libya Britain will announce it is has agreed closer military co-operation with Libya as the armed forces begin a significant shift in strategy. The hope is that fostering better relations in areas where the UK has security and business interests will head off future conflicts, prevent terrorism and give Britain a better foothold in north Africa over the next 20 years. The UK has agreed to help train the Libyan military and will also help to establish bomb disposal and defence language schools.