Troops were deployed in Tunisia on Wednesday as anti-government protests spread to the capital of Tunis, media reports said.
Approximately 200 demonstrators clashed with police as troops took up positions in the first demonstration in the capital since the wave of violence began in mid-December after protests over unemployment. Several fatalities were reported.
According to the official Tunisian press agency TAP, the country's President, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, has also replaced interior minister Rafik Belhadj Kacem, who was responsible for the police force.
Further, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi announced on Wednesday after meeting with senior officials the release of demonstrators arrested since the beginning of riots, and the establishment of two inquiry commissions to investigate offenses committed during the clashes and corruption cases.
Ghannouchi called on the parliament to implement measures announced by the president on Monday, which included the creation of 300,000 new jobs to ease the protests.
The series of measures came after weeks of unrest which according to official reports have caused the deaths of at least 21 people in the southern and western regions. The turmoil began after a street vendor set himself on fire after his fruit cart was confiscated by police.
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