Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. 4 Killed in Fresh Tunisia Clashes VOA News 13 January 2011 People stand outside an official building with a charred car in M'nihla, outside Tunis, Thursday Jan.13, 2011 Photo: AP People stand outside an official building with a charred car in M'nihla, outside Tunis, Thursday Jan.13, 2011. Sporadic sounds of clashes and rounds of gunfire echoed in the suburbs of Tunisia's capital early Thursday as youths defied a government curfew order aimed at calming more than three weeks of riots by protesters angry about high unemployment. A human rights group and union leaders in Tunisia say at least four people were killed during new clashes between police and demonstrators. Protesters defied a government-ordered curfew in the capital Tunis, and police fired tear gas at rock-throwing demonstrators angered by high unemployment and food prices. Tunisian officials say 23 people have died from the unrest across the country, while the opposition and rights groups say the death toll is more than 50. Witnesses in Douz, some 550 kilometers south of the capital, said at least three people were killed Wednesday in clashes between police and demonstrators.  Switzerland said Thursday a Swiss woman who also has Tunisian nationality was killed during unrest Wednesday in the country's north. Sources in France say a French citizen has also been killed. What sparked unrest The unrest began in December when a 26-year-old university graduate set himself on fire after police confiscated his produce. Authorities said he was selling without a permit.  The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has urged the government to stop security forces from using excessive force against protesters. Navi Pillay also has urged Tunisia to launch a "transparent and credible investigation" into the unrest. Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi announced Wednesday that he had fired and replaced the country's interior minister. The government also announced Wednesday that authorities would release demonstrators who had been arrested earlier in the unrest.  NEW: Follow our Middle East reports on [1]Twitter and discuss them on our [2]Facebook page. References 1. http://twitter.com/VOAMidEast 2. http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOAMiddleEastVoices/124360240958667? v=wall .