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Tunisia Extends Curfew, Bans Protests as Virus Cases Jump

Associated Press

   TUNIS, TUNISIA - Tunisia is extending its virus curfew and banning
   demonstrations as it tries to stem a rapid rise in infections and calm
   tensions after a week of protests and rioting over economic troubles.

   New clashes between protesters and police broke out Saturday hours
   after the new virus restrictions were announced.

   Tunisia reported 103 virus-related deaths Thursday, the highest figure
   to date in the country of 11 million people. It also has among the
   highest rates in Africa. Local media reports cite doctors describing
   hospitals that are already too full to accept more virus patients.

   The rising infections are raising new alarm at a time when the
   government is facing unrest among young people nationwide over poverty
   and lack of jobs.

   Hundreds of protesters gathered Saturday on the central Tunis
   thoroughfare Avenue Bourguiba to demand the release of those arrested
   during clashes with police during the past week. Human rights groups
   say some 1,000 people were detained and dozens ordered jailed for
   vandalism and theft.

   Broken promises

   The protesters denounce what they say are broken economic promises from
   the government in the country that unleashed the Arab Spring uprisings
   a decade ago. With a third of young Tunisians out of work, most
   protesters are disillusioned youth with disparate grievances.

   At Saturday's protest, organized by human rights groups and left-wing
   political parties, security forces struggled to contain demonstrators
   denouncing police repression and hurling insults at officers, who
   repeatedly charged the crowd.

   "No more fear, the street belongs to the people!" shouted
   demonstrators, and others chanted, "The people want the fall of the
   regime!" The crowd also chanted the slogan of Tunisia's 2010-11
   revolution: "Employment, freedom, dignity."

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