Erdogan condoles with Tunisia over president's death

By Busra Nur Bilgic

ANKARA (AA) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday extended his deepest condolences over the death of Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.

"I wish Allah’s mercy upon him and extend my condolences to the brotherly people of Tunisia," Erdogan said in a statement.

He will always be remembered with respect, he added.

Essebsi was a political figure playing a role in Tunisia's path to democracy after the 2011 Jasmine Revolution, a 28-day civil resistance campaign.

Tunisia's first democratically elected president Essebsi took office in December 2014 after having served in a variety of key positions in the North African country for several decades, most notably as director of national security, interior minister, defense minister, and foreign minister.

Funeral of the late president will be held on Saturday, Tunisia's Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Al-Nasser announced in a press conference.