THOUSANDS OF TUNISIANS TOOK TO THE STREETS IN THE CAPITAL, TUNIS, YESTERDAY, TO PROTEST AGAINST PRESIDENT KAIS SAIED'S POLITICAL MEASURES AND RISING FOOD PRICES.

A COORDINATOR FROM THE CITIZENS AGAINST THE COUP COALITION – ONE OF THE PROTEST ORGANISERS – TOLD THE STATE BROADCASTER THAT THEY REJECTED THE COUNTRY'S NEW CONSTITUTION THAT WAS DRAWN UP UNILATERALLY BY MR SAIED.

ISLAMIST ENNAHDA MOVEMENT OFFICIAL, ALI AL-ARID, TOLD THE CHANNEL THAT PROTESTS WOULD CONTINUE IN THE FORM OF SIT-INS, MARCHES AND HUNGER STRIKES.

MR SAIED HAS PUSHED THROUGH A SERIES OF MOVES EXPANDING HIS POWERS AND DISMANTLING ELECTED INSTITUTIONS SINCE LAST YEAR, WHEN HE SUSPENDED PARLIAMENT.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, HE ANNOUNCED A PLAN FOR A NEW REPUBLIC IN TUNISIA WHICH WOULD BE PUT TO REFERENDUM ON THE 25^TH OF JULY.