Tunisian Islamists move to ease tensions, unions demand roadmap

Police officers stand guard outside the parliament building in Tunis, Tunisia July 27, 2021. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's leading Islamist party moved on Tuesday to ease the country's political crisis, calling for dialogue and urging supporters not to protest after accusing President Kais Saied of launching a coup.

Tunisia faced its worst political crisis in a decade of democracy after Saied, backed by the army, sacked the prime minister and froze parliament on Sunday, sparking concern in Western capitals that have praised its transition from autocracy since the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011.