Tunisia's political crisis neared its "moment of truth" yesterday after tens of thousands of people poured onto the streets of the capital to demand the government's resignation.

Newspapers said the North African country’s Islamist rulers and their detractors must open a dialogue on ending the crisis gripping the North African state before it is too late to talk.

Tens of thousands of people poured onto the streets of Tunis on Tuesday night to demand the government step down, and the crisis deepened further with the suspension of the elected National Constituent Assembly (ANC).

"We must go from a showdown on the squares and in the streets to a confrontation through arguments," said La Presse.

Analysts say the moment of truth has arrived.

"No party, including Ennahda, can ignore the position of the UGTT (Tunisian General Labour Union)... Ennahda can not carry on without taking on board the fact that the (economic and social) forces in the country do not agree with it," stressed political scientist Slaheddinejourchi.

The powerful half-million strong UGTT has organised a general strike to try to force the government's hand.

Tunisia has been wracked by political unrest since the July 25 murder of opposition MP Mohamed Brahmi, and Tuesday’s protests marked the biggest anti-government rally since the assassination.