20110226
reuters

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian soldiers fired shots into the air on Friday in an attempt to disperse tens of thousands of protesters in central Tunis demanding changes to the interim government, some burning tyres and throwing rocks.

Witnesses said several people were injured in the demonstration and transported to hospital. Security officials were not available to comment.

The rally, dubbed by the demonstrators a "day of rage", appeared to be the biggest since uprisings in North Africa's most developed country ended the 23-year rule of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on January 14 and sparked pro-democracy protests across the Arab world.

Demonstrators shouted slogans calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, a former ally of Ben Ali, from the interim government. Some protesters carried images of Ghannouchi's face merging seamlessly into that of the Ben Ali's, shouting "shame on the government!"

"The only demand we have is the end of this government," said Alia Soussi, a 22-year-old student. "We hope Ghannouchi gets the message."

Witnesses said protesters burned tyres and threw rocks through the windows of the Interior Ministry building, long a symbol of repression under Ben Ali's more than 20-year rule. A source at the Interior Ministry told Reuters protesters were also destroying cars parked outside.

Military helicopters circled over the rally, which had formed in defiance of a government ban on demonstrations since Ben Ali's ouster. The protesters remained in place despite security forces firing warning shots in the air.

"I saw a young girl whose foot was badly injured by a bullet," one witness said. Several other witnesses told Reuters by telephone that a number of people were hurt.