Clashes erupt in central Tunisia after death following police chase

Street clashes broke out for a second night in the Tunisian city of Kairouan after a man died following a police pursuit, raising fears of wider unrest as the country nears the anniversary of the 2011 revolution.

Clashes between police and groups of young people continued late on Saturday in Kairouan, with witnesses reporting stone throwing, petrol bombs, flares and burning tyres blocking several streets. Police responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowds.

The unrest followed the death of a man whose family says he was chased by police while riding a motorcycle without a licence.

Relatives claim he was beaten, taken to hospital, later fled and died on Friday from a head injury. The authorities have not publicly commented on the allegations.

Family members said they would escalate protests if those responsible were not held accountable. In an effort to calm tensions, Kairouan’s governor visited the family on Saturday evening and promised an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, according to witnesses.

The clashes come as tensions rise nationwide ahead of January’s anniversary of Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, which triggered the Arab Spring.

Protests have intensified in recent weeks, while the powerful UGTT labour union has called for a nationwide strike next month.

Separately, thousands of people have been demonstrating for weeks in the southern city of Gabes, demanding the closure of a chemical plant over environmental concerns.

President Kais Saied dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree in 2021, saying the move was necessary to tackle corruption and mismanagement.

His critics describe the move as a coup. Rights groups accuse Saied of using the police and judiciary to suppress dissent, allegations he has denied.

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