Tunis, Jan 14 (AFP) Tunisians today marked seven yearssince the uprising that launched the Arab Spring, with moreprotests after days of unrest over persisting poverty andunemployment.
The North African country is seen as having had arelatively smooth democratic transition since the January 14,2011 toppling of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after 23years in power.
But seven years later, anger has risen over new austeritymeasures after a year of rising prices, with protests againchanting the 2011 slogans of "Work, Freedom, Dignity".
Today, hundreds gathered in the capital Tunis, respondingto calls to protest from a powerful labour union and severalpolitical parties.
Security was tight as protesters poured throughcheckpoints into the capital's Habib Bourguiba Avenue, whichwas the epicentre of the 2011 protests.
Demonstrators chanted against "poverty and hunger" asthey marched up the avenue, accusing "thieves" of havingstolen the country.
A wave of peaceful protests and night-time unrest hitcities and towns across the country this past week, afterhikes in value-added tax and social security contributionsintroduced in early January.
The interior ministry says it has arrested more than 800people suspected of taking part in violence, theft and lootingsince the start of the unrest.
Protester demands have included a review of the 2018austerity budget and more efficient measures to fight enduringcorruption.
Today, more than 1,000 people gathered outside theoffices of the UGTT union.
"The people want the fall of the 2018 budget," somechanted, echoing 2011 calls for the fall of the regime.
"Shame! Prices have risen too much," a demonstrator said.
Hundreds more gathered after Ennahdha, an Islamist partythat is part of the ruling coalition, and Prime MinisterYoussef Chahed's Popular Front party also called fordemonstrations.
President Beji Caid Essebsi was to mark the anniversaryby attending the opening of a youth centre in the working-class Tunis suburb of Ettadhamen, which saw night-time clashesbetween young protesters and police this week.
Tunisia's 2011 revolt was sparked by the self-immolationof a fruit seller in desperation at police harassment andunemployment.
On January 14, 2011, Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia,inspiring similar revolts across the region in what becameknown as the Arab Spring.
Tunisia has been praised for its steps towards democracyin the years since, compared to countries now wracked by warsuch as Syria or Yemen.
A new constitution was adopted and legislative andpresidential polls held in 2014.
But authorities have struggled to redress Tunisia'seconomy, including after deadly jihadist attacks in 2015 dealta major blow to the key tourism sector.
Seven years on, youth unemployment is more than 35percent, according to the International Labour Organization.
Yesterday, Essebsi announced an increase in aid to theneedy and improved health care as part of social reformsfollowing the unrest. (AFP)KIS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.