Tunisia's Ennahda party calls for protests, defying a decision to ban gatherings

A tunisian flag flutters outside the building of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, July 29, 2021. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's main opposition Ennahda party on Wednesday called for supporters to protest on Friday against President Kais Saied, defying a government decision to ban all gatherings.

The government said earlier it was re-imposing a night curfew, banning all gatherings for two weeks and discouraging people from travelling abroad to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 cases.

The Islamist party said it will protest against "the nascent dictatorship that perpetuates the monopoly of power and authority and seeks to strike the free judiciary".

(Reporting By Tarek Amara; Editing by Chris Reese)