Tunisia president rejects 'interference' after Western concerns about democracy

FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Kais Saied speaks during an interview with Reuters, as the country awaits the official results of the presidential election, in Tunis, Tunisia September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed//File Photo

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Friday he rejected "any form of foreign interference", in comments after several Western countries raised concerns over Tunisia's democracy amid his increasing political control of the country.

A year after Saied moved to shut down the elected parliament and start ruling by decree, he introduced a new constitution this week that gives him far more powers and that was endorsed in a referendum on Monday.