Tunisia opposition chief questioned all night by counter-terrorism police

The leader of Tunisia's Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party was questioned through the night over alleged complicity in the departure of jihadist militants for Syria and Iraq, his lawyer said.

Rached Ghannouchi, who has been a key player in Tunisian politics for over a decade, appeared before a judge after being questioned overnight by specialist anti-terror police.

Ghannouchi dismissed all the allegations.

"The questions had no basis and there was no evidence for the accusations," he told journalists.

"There are attempts afoot to neutralise a political rival."

Ghannouchi was exiled for over two decades under late dictator Zine El Abidine Ali, but had returned following the country's 2011 uprising to become a dominant figure in Tunisian politics -- including as speaker of parliament.

But he is a key rival of President Kais Saied, who suspended the legislature last year and later seized control of the judiciary.

Ennahdha categorically denies the accusations levelled at Ghannouchi and Tunisia's former prime minister Ali Laarayedh, who was also questioned for hours and remained in detention, according to Dilou.

Ghannouchi has now been summoned to appear before the judiciary's counter-terrorism branch, his lawyer Samir Dilou said.

His party denounced the interrogation as "a form of torture" and part of "a total set-up".

Critics of Ennahda accuse it of having facilitated the departure of militants for war zones.