Tunisian president urges calm as protesters remain defiant

Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed on Monday urged protesters to desist from vandalizing private and public properties.

Tunisians are disappointed about high unemployment rate and the financial crisis in the North African nation. This led to a mass protest which began on Friday.

“Through you, I want to speak to all the Tunisian people, I know the state of poverty and I also know who is exploiting your poverty. Don’t let anyone exploit your misery; don’t attack private or public property. We live today because of moral values and not because of theft or looting,” Saïed said when he met with residents of Ettadhamen city.

On Monday, officials said more than 600 people have been arrested following the deployment of troops after the third day of protests.

The protests erupted days after Tunisia commemorated the 10th anniversary of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s exile.

He was pushed from power in a popular revolt that later reached other North African and Mideast countries, known as the Arab Spring in 2011.

Olajumoke Adeleke