MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Authorities detained 50 in the coastal town of Nabeul 60 miles south of Tunis, and 30 more in Sfax some 100 miles further to the south, according to the Tunisian Mosaique FM radio station.
22 January 2016, 11:54 GMT
Nearly 450 people were said to be arrested since protests erupted late last week when an unemployed man died of electrocution in the western province of Kasserine. That turned into a flashpoint for young people to press demands for the government to provide them with jobs.
General Board of the National Guard spokesman Col. Khalifa Chibani reestablished order late on Saturday after 123 participants in acts of violence were arrested.
Local authorities later said the number of those detained over public unrest stood at more than 260, with 84 more arrests for violating an 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew. Dozens were injured as protests grew violent and police used tear gas in clashes with protesters.
Kasserine is said to have double the average rate of unemployment in Tunisia at 30 percent.
