Egypt's Sisi tells Tunisians not to protest

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has advised Tunisians to refrain from protesting as the days-old turmoil in Tunisia triggered a nationwide curfew by the government on Friday. 

"I would never intervene in the domestic affairs of our Tunisian brothers, but I tell the Tunisian people the whole world is under economic hardships, take care of your country," the President said during his speech at Cairo's Police Academy on Saturday, celebrating national Police Day.

"I hope I will be rewarded for promoting peace, constructiveness, development and stability, rather than sabotage and killings," he added.

Following the fifth anniversary of the Tunisian revolution that overthrew dictator Ben Ali, young Tunisians took to the streets in fresh protests over unemployment and poverty, as the government warned from "infiltrators".

The Tunisian government warned in a statement that "terrorist groups" could exploit the state of chaos to infiltrate the protesters and carry out attacks.

Tunisia's interior ministry was forced to announce a curfew after the protests, which have been taking place in several parts of the country, finally reached the capital city of Tunis.

The curfew will take place between 8pm and 5am in an effort to stop looting and clashes with police, which are said to have erupted in some Tunisian cities.

Sisi's advice to Tunisians came as Egypt itself braces for potential protests on the fifth anniversary of the Tunisia-inspired 25 January revolution that toppled former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.

The country has been witnessing heightened security, with army troops occupying Cairo's Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the 2011 uprising and a preferred location for social and political protests since then.

I would never intervene in the domestic affairs of our Tunisian brothers, but I tell the Tunisian people the whole world is under economic hardships, take care of your country. - Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

The Egyptian army announced on Friday that it would tighten security measures to secure vital installations and "confront any attempt to violate the law, or impact on the nation's security and stability".

The military's statement comes amid an ongoing pre-emptive crackdown on any form of dissent, including Facebook posts mobilising people for anti-regime protests on the upcoming revolution anniversary.

Facebook was a crucial tool for protesters who occupied Tahrir Square during the revolution, and the subsequent demonstrations against the military junta that took over.

Authorities have also raided and searched as many as 5,000 flats in the past ten days, primarily in downtown Cairo, seeking to prevent protests planned for 25 January.

Residents of downtown Cairo have said that local cafes, often frequented by activists, have also been raided, and their owners harrassed and questioned about their clientale.

Sisi had already advised against protesting on that day during a speech in December, wondering why those who call for protests in Egypt would want to "ruin" the country.