TUNIS, (Reuters) – Tunisian police used watercanon and sticks on more than 1000 demonstrators who tried to enter central Tunis to protest against the president.

Many protestors were prevented from gathering on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis, which is central Tunis’s main street and the focal point for demonstrations since the revolution of 2011 that brought about democracy.

The police tried to disperse several protest groups, with at least one having hundreds, witnesses claimed. Witnesses also said they kicked or pushed the demonstrators to get them away.

According to the Interior Ministry, 1,200 protestors had been reported and that its forces were exercising restraint.

The opposition parties, including moderate Islamist Ennahda, are protesting President Kais Saied’s suspension of Parliament, assumption of executive authority, and attempts to rewrite constitution. They call it a coup.

“Protecting Tunisians free from demonstrations on the anniversary of revolution is shameful… it is an attack upon freedoms, and represents a large decline under the coup authorities,” stated Imed Khemiri (an Ennahda member) who was suspended the parliament.

Numerous police vehicles were seen in the vicinity, and there were also two water cannons used to protect the building of the Interior Ministry.

Friday’s demonstration is against the ban placed on indoor and outdoor gatherings by Tuesday’s government announcement to stop COVID-19 waves.

Chayma issa, an activist for the opposition said that today Saied has only responded to opposing forces with force and security forces…it is sad to see Tunisia in this way on the anniversary of our revolution”.

Ennahda was among the other participants in the demonstration, accusing the government of banning protestors and then resuming the night curfew to protect their health and political interests.

Analysts say that Saied appears to have lost some support since July’s actions, even though they were initially popular after many years of economic stagnation.

Tunisia’s economic situation is not improving. International support has been slow to come through for fragile public finances. In September, the government Saied announced an unpopular budget plan for 2022.

Friday fell on the Tunisians’ previous anniversary of the revolution. It was the day that Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (an autocratic dictator) fled Tunisia. Saied decided last year that the date for the commemoration would be December 1, the date when a suicide attempt by a street vendor triggered the revolt.