Tunisians protest against Saied over arrests and economic strain

TUNIS, May 16 (Reuters) - ‌Hundreds of ​Tunisians ​protested in the capital Tunis on Saturday against President Kais Saied, accusing him of ‌undermining freedoms and presiding over a worsening economic ⁠and social crisis.

The protest was held under the slogan: "The ‌people are hungry and prisons ‌are full".

Demonstrators called for an end to one-man rule and carried banners denouncing arrests of politicians, ​journalists and civil society figures, amid concerns of a widening crackdown on dissent.

Protesters also criticised ⁠what they said was Saied's failure to tackle the economic crisis, while ​using the judiciary and police to silence critics.

Tunisia is facing acute economic strain, with ​sluggish growth, soaring prices, shortages ‌of medicines and some food, financing pressures, and deteriorating public services.

Saied, who dissolved ⁠parliament and began ruling by decree in 2022, has faced mounting criticism from rights groups over what they ⁠say is the dismantling of the post-2011 democratic system.

Saied rejects those ​accusations, saying his measures are necessary to save the country from chaos and corruption.

The bar association has called for ‌strikes in coming days over erosion of judicial independence, while the journalists' union ‌plans protests against the jailing of journalists and restrictions ⁠on press freedom.

Authorities say ‌they are enforcing ​the law and reject accusations of political repression.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara. Editing by Mark ‌Potter)

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