U.S.'s Blinken urges Tunisia to return to 'democratic path'

A police officer pushes back supporters of Tunisia's biggest political party, the moderate Islamist Ennahda, as they attempt to reach the parliament building in Tunis, Tunisia July 26, 2021. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

TUNIS (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said he had urged Tunisia's president to take action that would return the country "to the democratic path" after his seizure of governing powers on Sunday.

President Kais Saied invoked a national emergency over the pandemic and poor governance to dismiss the prime minister, freeze parliament and seize executive control in a move welcomed by street rallies, but which his opponents branded a coup.