Hundreds of Tunisians are protesting against police brutality, increasing poverty, high prices and the shortage of foodstuff, escalating pressure on the government as the country suffers an economic and political crisis.

Tunisia is struggling to revive its public finances as discontent grows over inflation running at nearly nine per cent and a shortage of many food items in stores because the country cannot afford to pay for some imports.

Local media reports that the North African nation is also amid a severe political crisis since the Tunisian president seized control of the executive power last year and dissolved parliament in a move his opponents called a coup.

Some protesters lifted loaves of bread in the air in the poor Douar Hicher district in the capital. Others chanted, “Where is Kais Saied?” and burned tires.

In the Mornag suburb, young men blocked roads, protesting the suicide of a young man whose family says he hanged himself after municipal police harassed him and seized a weighing machine when he was selling fruit in the street without permission.

Riot police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters in Mornag, with the protesters raising slogans against the police and throwing stones at them.

In Douar Hicher, protesters chanted, “Jobs, freedom and national dignity,” and “We can’t support crazy price hikes,” “Where is sugar?”.

Food shortages are worsening in Tunisia, with empty shelves in supermarkets and bakeries.

In its worst financial crisis, the country seeks to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan to save public finances from collapse.

This month, the government raised the price of cooking gas cylinders by 14 per cent for the first time in 12 years.

It also raised fuel prices for the fourth time this year as part of a plan to reduce energy subsidies, a policy change sought by the IMF. 

(Reuters/NAN)