Fresh clashes between protesters and security forces broke out Tuesday night in Ettadhamoun, a suburb of the capital Tunisia.
Unrest escalates in Tunisia with hundreds of protesters took to streets on Tuesday throwing stones on police who have fired into the air to disperse rioters ransacking buildings in a suburb of the capital.
Fresh clashes between protesters and security forces broke out Tuesday night in Ettadhamoun, a suburb of the capital Tunisia, residents told AFP.
Groups of young protesters burned a bus and looted businesses and a bank, shouting "We are not afraid!” one witness said.
Protesters had also blocked the roads with burning tyres, set fire to a bus and two cars and also set fire to a local government office.
The army had been deployed in the most restive towns on Tuesday and schools and universities closed after a weekend of violence.
Tunisia has been hit by a series of riots by protesters saying they want action to create more jobs and better living conditions.
UNREST CASUALTIES
Labor and human-rights activists said as many as 50 people had been killed in protests against unemployment.
The Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said that at least 35 people were killed in violence over the weekend after security forces shot at demonstrators, prompting international calls for restraint.
"We have a list of the names of the 35," Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH president, told the AFP news agency.
"The total figure is higher. It's somewhere around 50, but that's an estimate."
However, the authorities denied these figures as “totally false”.
"Our numbers say there are 21 dead," Communications Minister Samir Laabidi told a news conference, denying the reports of a higher death toll.
"All other figures given by television and agencies which talk about 40 or 50 [dead] are totally false.”
"Those who have spoken of 40 or 50 dead should produce a list of names," he said.
"We regret the deaths and sympathise with the families," Laabidi said.
"All peaceful demonstrations are tolerated, logical and understandable," he said, adding however that "violence threatening security and stability" crossed a "red line".
"Police never fired on protesters, these deaths occurred during attacks and acts of vandalism against public buildings, police stations or schools," he said, accusing "Islamic and left-wing extremists" of manipulating protesters.
