TUNIS — Tunisian President Kais Saied on Monday ordered an overnight curfew and other restrictions, a day after he suspended the parliament and sacked the prime minister, who was also the acting interior minister, in a move his opponents described as a "coup". President Saied also fired the country's Defense Minister Brahim Berteji and Civil Service Minister and Acting Justice Minister Hasna Ben Slimane after violent protests against the government's COVID-19 mismanagement and worsening economy gripped Tunisia, paralyzing many citizens. The Tunisian president banned the movement of people or vehicles on the streets from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. until Aug. 27 The presidential order also banned gatherings of more than three people on public roads or in public squares during the day. In a recorded speech released on Monday, Saied stressed that his decisions were in line with the text of the constitution and not a coup, calling on Tunisian people to remain calm and not to respond to any provocations. Accusing his adversaries of turning the revolution into plunder, President Saied said that the will of the people has been robbed. He urged the people not to take to the streets as the most danger a nation can face is an internal explosion.
