Tunis: Soldiers were deployed in the centre of Tunis yesterday after a wave of unrest that has killed at least 50 people spread overnight to the capital for the first time.
On the city's main avenue, two military vehicles were parked opposite the French embassy, and two soldiers with weapons were patrolling in the street, a Reuters reporter said.
A short distance from downtown Tunis, two Humveee vehicles were parked at the entrance to the state television headquarters and two soldiers wearing helmets and flak jackets were patrolling with automatic weapons.
Late on Tuesday, police fired into the air to disperse a crowd ransacking buildings in a Tunis suburb. The wave of violent unrest is the worst in President Zine Al Abidine Bin Ali's 23-year rule. People taking part in the weeks of clashes rocking Tunisia say they want jobs and better living conditions, but the authorities say the protests have been hijacked by a minority of violent extremists armed with petrol bombs and clubs.
Strongest statement
In the strongest US statement on the violence to date, US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington was "deeply concerned by reports of the use of excessive force by the government of Tunisia".
Officials said the civilian deaths — almost all of them in clashes in provincial towns at the weekend — came about when police fired on rioters in legitimate self-defence.
Until Tuesday evening there had been no reports of major new clashes after the army was deployed in the most restive towns, schools and universities were shut indefinitely and police with loudhailers ordered people in at least one town not to gather in the streets.
The main focus of the protests has been bread-and-butter issues but some of those taking part have criticised Bin Ali, especially on social media such as Twitter and Facebook.
