UPDATE – Thousands demonstrate in Tunisia to demand Saied’s departure

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TUNIS, Tunisia (AA) – Thousands demonstrated in Tunisia on Saturday to demand the departure of President Kais Saied amid a months-long political crisis in the North African country.

The protest was organized by the opposition National Salvation Front (NSF) on the 12th anniversary of the 2011 popular uprising that ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Protesters in the capital Tunis chanted slogans demanding Saied step down, according to an Anadolu reporter on the ground.

Addressing protesters, NSF Chairman Ahmed Najib Chebbi called for putting an end to what he called a “coup” staged by the Tunisian president.

“This coup has destroyed the economy, and persecuted Tunisians,” he said, blaming Saied for the soaring cost of living across the country.

“Saied must go and end his rule,” Chebbi said.

Seifeddine Makhlouf, head of the Dignity coalition, said Saied’s “coup” has undermined all Tunisian institutions.

“The coup has destroyed the state and its institutions and manipulated the state Treasury,” Makhlouf told Anadolu.

“We will continue to oppose these measures until the end of the coup and the return of democracy,” he added.

There was no comment from Tunisian authorities on the protest.

Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis that aggravated the country's economy since 2021, when Saied ousted the government and dissolved parliament.

Since then, Saied held a referendum to draft a new constitution last July and parliamentary elections last December.

While Saied insists that his measures were meant to "save" the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report​​​​​​​