Thousands of Tunisians Sunday took to the streets in a rally in the capital Tunis to protest President Kais Saied's move to expand his powers.
About 2,000 Tunisians rallied in their capital on Sunday to protest President's steps to tighten his grip on power which they labelled "a coup d'etat".
It was the largest demonstration since Saied on July 25 sacked prime minister Hichem Mechichi, suspended parliament and granted himself judicial powers, a move he followed up on Wednesday by announcing "exceptional measures" that allow him to rule by decree.
"Constitution, freedom and national dignity," chanted the demonstrators. They also demanded "national unity against populism" and called for the "end of the Kais Saied regime".
Security forces were deployed in large numbers along Bourguiba Avenue, which runs through the heart of the capital, with armoured cars, police vans and metal barriers set up to control access to different areas.
The president made his power grab after months of political stalemate and during the Covid-19 pandemic which further aggravated the country's economic and social difficulties.
