Thousands protest Tunisian president amid grinding economic crisis

Thousands of Tunisians marched in the capital to protest against President Kais Saied, whom they accuse of seeking to install a new dictatorship amid a worsening economic crisis.

Separate rallies by different opposition groups were held in Tunis with a heavy police presence.

Held on the 12th anniversary of the fall of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, they come against a backdrop of deepening political divisions and deteriorating economic conditions in the North African country.

"The people want what you don't want. Down with Saied," chanted protesters at the main demonstration, organised by Tunisia's biggest opposition force the National Salvation Front, which includes Saied's nemesis the Islamist-inspired Ennahda party.

Ennahdha had dominated parliament until Saied launched a dramatic power grab on July 25, 2021, sacking the government and freezing parliament before appointing a new cabinet and ruling by decree.

Tunisians who largely supported Saied's 2021 takeover have become increasingly fed up with rising inflation and poverty, which now affects some 20 percent of the country's 12 million inhabitants, according to the government.

Protesters at a separate left-wing march not far away denounced Saied's "authoritarian drift", which they say threatens the only democracy to have emerged from the Arab Spring revolts.

Some chanted slogans echoing the messages of the 2011 uprising and demanded "work", as unemployment hovers above 15 percent.