Tunisia arrests protesters, deploys army amid unrest

Officials in Tunisia arrested more than 300 protesters and deployed the army to several cities across the country in response to violent anti-government demonstrations that began Monday. The Tunisian government on Jan. 1 increased taxes on gasoline, internet access, and some food in a bid to curb the country’s growing deficit. But protesters complained about the high prices while so many continue to battle unemployment and low salaries. Troops were deployed to the town of Thala, near the Algerian border, after protesters burned down the national security building, witnesses said. Soldiers also assumed positions in several other cities, including Sousse, Kebeli, and Bizert, to protect targeted government buildings. On Tuesday, protesters threw Molotov cocktails at a Jewish school on the southern island of Djerba. Interior ministry spokesman Khelifa Chibani confirmed the latest arrests, which bring the number of total arrests since the start of protests to about 600.