Thousands of Tunisian protestors gathered on Sunday in the streets leading to Bardo Square after the police blocked off the area opposite to the parliament headquarters in the capital, opposing President Kais Saied’s “measures.”

Al Mayadeen correspondent in Tunisia reported that security forces fired tear gas at protestors after they attempted to breach the security barrier, adding that a number of political activists and opposition leaders have participated in the rally. 

The roads leading to the parliament building at the capital's Bardo palace witnessed heightened security deployment.

Our correspondent cited some protestors as saying that "The security forces blocked off the area and prevented us from reaching Bardo Square in the capital," noting that there were clashes between demonstrators and security forces in the square in front of the parliament headquarters.

Protestors, who chanted “No fear, the power belongs to the people,” have also said that they do not intend to storm the parliament building and that their protest is peaceful.

Appalling targeting of Al Mayadeen team covering the protest

Our reporter stated that members of the remnants of “Citizens Against the Coup Initiative” tried to attack Al Mayadeen’s team and other media outlets, noting that "those who tried to assault the media were uttering clear sectarian terms."

The “Citizens Against the Coup” initiative in Tunisia called for a protest sit-in on Sunday in Bardo Square, in order to end the “arbitrary state of exception” and in defense of “constitutional and parliamentary legitimacy.”

On Saturday, the initiative accused the country’s authorities of blocking the arrival of citizens to the capital.

The initiative includes Tunisian activists and citizens. It was established in opposition to Saied’s "exceptional" measures.

UGTT will participate in the national dialogue

Earlier, Tunisian General Labor Union demanded that a national dialogue be held and a road map be developed to end the country's exceptional period, which has lasted months.

The Tunisian General Labor Union has recently confirmed that it will participate in the national dialogue that President Kais Saied intends to launch.

On his part, the Secretary-General of the Union Noureddine Taboubi has recently stated that "there is no escape from dialogue to secure the transitional path, and there is no dialogue without the participation of the union." He emphasized that dialogue is one of the Union's constants and traditions, providing that the objectives and mechanisms to be adopted are clear.

Tunisia has been experiencing a severe political crisis since July when Saied implemented exceptional measures, which included dismissing the Prime Minister, freezing the Parliament's work, and lifting the immunity of all its members.