Erdogan tells Tunisia's Saied that Tunisian Parliament's work 'vital'

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied in a phone call on Monday that the continuation of the Tunisian Parliament's work was important for the region, his office said, after Saied froze Parliament and dismissed his premier.

In a statement, Turkey's presidency said Erdogan "emphasised that the Parliament of Tunisia ... maintaining operations despite all difficulties was important for the democracy of Tunisia and the region," adding that the work of the Parliament was "vital."

"Erdogan stated that it was very valuable for the democracy of Tunisia to be protected, for its freedoms to be guaranteed, and that the rule of is upheld," it said. 

Earlier this week Turkish officials condemned Tunisian President Kais Saied's suspension of parliament and dismissal of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi as a coup against the country's constitutional order.

"What is happening in Tunisia is worrisome. Decisions prohibiting the elected parliament and MPs from fulfilling their duties is a coup against the constitutional order," Turkey's Speaker of Parliament Mustafa Sentop said on Twitter.