Troops surrounded Tunisia's parliament and blocked its speaker from entering Monday after the president suspended the legislature and fired the prime minister following nationwide protests over the country's economic troubles and coronavirus crisis.
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Police intervened Monday to prevent clashes outside the parliament building between lawmakers from Islamist party Ennahdha, which dominates the Assembly of the Representatives of the People of Tunisia, and demonstrators supporting the president.
The dissolution of parliament had been among the demands of thousands of protesters who defied virus restrictions and scorching heat to demonstrate Sunday in the capital, Tunis, and other cities. The largely young crowds shouted "Get out!" and called for early elections and economic reforms. Clashes erupted in many places.
Tunisia's economy has been struggling for years, and the country recently reimposed lockdowns and other virus restrictions because it's facing one of Africa's worst virus outbreaks.
