Tunisians stage sit-in to protest President Saied's rule

Dozens of protesters held a sit-in in central Tunis on Saturday to demonstrate against recent moves made by President Kais Saied, the New Arab's Arabic language news site Al Araby Al Jadeed reported.

Hundreds gathered at the Habib Bourguiba Avenue on Friday to mark the 11th anniversary of the Tunisian revolution and dozens staged a sit-in overnight to call for the restoration of democracy and denounce Saied's power grab.

Protesters spent a night surrounded by heavy security presence, Al Araby Al Jadeed reported, adding that it was called for by a group known as 'Citizens Against the Coup'.

Reda Belhaj, a member of the group, said the sit-in will continue despite security presence, adding that "it has only increased our resolve".

The sit-in came after Tunisians held a large demonstrations at the key avenue, chanting slogans against Saied's "coup d'etat".

Metal barriers and dozens of security personnel separated hundreds of protesters from some 200 Saied supporters who rallied nearby.

Saied in July sacked the government, froze parliament and seized far-reaching powers, vowing to hold his "corrupt" political rivals to account.

On Monday, the former constitutional law lecturer prolonged his suspension of parliament until elections in December 2022 and announced a nationwide public consultation to draw up a new constitution.

The president's Islamist-inspired opponents Ennahdha and other lawmakers have bitterly opposed Saied's moves.