Apology to Rached Ghannouchi

In a Viewpoint article by a contributor titled Tunisia at Risk, posted on 21 November 2012, some statements were made about Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the Tunisian Ennahda Party, which were incorrect.

It was said that a video recording of a meeting between Mr Ghannouchi and some Salafists appeared to show him co-ordinating policy with them and that this suggested he condoned the violent attack by Salafists on the United States mission and the burning of the American School in Tunis in September 2012.

It is accepted that Mr Ghannouchi did not condone the attacks and that the meeting with Salafists had nothing to do with those subsequent events.

The article also wrongly stated that Mr Ghannouchi had threatened, prior to the elections in 2011, to order troops on to the streets if the Ennahda Party did not get the results he expected.

It is accepted that he did not make this statement.

The BBC apologises to Mr Ghannouchi for these mistakes and for the distress they caused him.