Tunisian president says he will not become a dictator after MP arrest

A police officer stands guard outside the parliament building in Tunis,Tunisia July 29, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

TUNIS (Reuters) -Tunisia's president promised on Friday he would not turn into a dictator and rejected accusations he had staged a coup, as two parliament members were arrested following his decision to lift their immunity when he seized control of government this week.

Tunisia has been thrust into a political crisis by President Kais Saied's move on Sunday to dismiss the prime minister and freeze parliament for 30 days, leading major parties to accuse him of a coup.