Violent protests in Tunisia over the economy, the virus spread

 

Violent protests in Tunisia over the economy, the virus spread

Violent demonstrations erupted in several Tunisian cities as demonstrators expressed their anger at the North African country's deteriorating health, economic and social situation.

Violent demonstrations erupted, on Sunday, in several Tunisian cities as demonstrators expressed their anger at the deteriorating health, economic and social situation of the North African country.

Thousands defied restrictions imposed by the virus and the sweltering heat to demonstrate in the capital, Tunis, and other cities. The young crowd shouted, "Get out!" And slogans to dissolve the House of Representatives and early elections.

The protests on the 64th anniversary of Tunisia's independence were called by a new group called the 25th of July Movement.

And the security forces were deployed powerfully, especially in Tunis, where the police closed off all the streets leading to the main artery of the capital, Boulevard Bourguiba. A decade ago, the road was an important site of the Tunisian revolution that toppled a dictatorship and unleashed the Arab Spring uprisings.

Police also deployed around the parliament building, preventing protesters from reaching it.

Police used tear gas to disperse some demonstrators, threw projectiles at officers, and arrested several people. protesters also broke out in several towns, notably in Nabeul, Sousse, Kairouan, Sfax, and Tozeur.

Demonstrators also stormed the offices of the Islamist Ennahda Movement, the dominant force in parliament. Videos circulating on the Internet showed smoke billowing from the Renaissance building. The attackers damaged computers and other equipment inside and dumped documents on the streets.

The party condemned the attack, saying that "criminal gangs" from inside and outside Tunisia were trying to "control chaos and destruction in the service of an agenda aimed at harming the Tunisian democratic process."

Tunisia has reimposed lockdowns and other virus-related restrictions on the coronavirus front as it faces one of the worst virus outbreaks in Africa.