Police Fire Teargas at Tunis Protest

Tunisian police fired teargas on Monday at a rally by hundreds of people protesting at the lack of political reforms since the overthrow of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January.

Columns of smoke could be seen rising above an area in front of the cathedral in Tunis where protesters gathered for a demonstration at the same time as an authorized one called by the General Workers' Union (UGTT), according to an Agence France Presse correspondent at the scene.

A dozen police armored vehicles sealed off the main Habib Bourguiba avenue to prevent demonstrators from marching on the interior ministry. This protest degenerated into violence, while a peaceful demonstration took place outside the city center.

Finding their way blocked, young demonstrators hurled objects of all kinds at the police, who riposted with tear gas, and shopkeepers and street traders hastily closed their businesses and left the scene in panic.

Several hundred people took part in the protest, shouting "new revolution" and "the people want the system to fall" as well as accusing the interior ministry of "terrorism."

The main UGTT trade union federation had called for a peaceful march to demand that the objectives of the January revolution be attained.

The trade union federation, which was the only legal one during Ben Ali's 23-year rule, sought a demonstration "faithful to the souls of the martyrs (in January) and for the achievement of the aims of the revolution".

In the peaceful protest, some 2,000 people, according to police, gathered in front of the labor exchange to march down the Mohamed V avenue, on the edge of central Tunis, marshaled by a police presence.

During this authorized march, protestors called for "Independent justice", a "purge of corrupt judges and lawyers", and for a "Free Tunisia, throw out the thieves."

Marchers denounced the transitional government headed by Prime Minister Beji Caïd Essebsi and accused it of failing to do enough to press ahead with reform in the north African country.

The national anthem was sung at both marches.

Representatives of the Islamist party Ennahda and other political parties took part in the march called for by the labor federation.