Tunisia’s governing Islamists have agreed in principle to a trade union proposal that it step down to make way for a transitional government and new elections.

The coalition’s approval of the plan may open up an immediate dialogue with its secular opponents and end the unrest that erupted after the assassination of an opposition figure in July.

“Our response to the initiative of the union was positive as a platform for dialogue with the political parties,” said Ameur Larayedh, a senior official in the moderate Islamist ruling party Ennahda.

Tunisia, where the overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011 was the first “Arab Spring” revolt, has been in crisis for weeks, souring a political transition that had been seen as one of the more successful among the region’s nascent democracies.

Stepping in to mediate, the UGTT labour union proposed a timetable on Tuesday for thegovernment to step down in three weeks and make way for a caretaker administration to oversee elections.

“We have some reservations, but we are ready to discuss these points within the dialogue, which we expect to begin next Tuesday probably,” Larayedh said.