Security officials and the army made the arrests in raids on Monday and Tuesday across the North African country where tensions remain high after the ousting in January of autocratic leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

The 197 were charged with various crimes including attacking police with stones, breaking a recently imposed curfew, theft and vandalism, TAP said, quoting the Interior Ministry.

Riot police used tear gas on Sunday to break up a fourth day of protests by scores of youths demanding the departure of the government and Prime Minister Beji Caid Sebsi.

The spark for the protests was a warning from a former interior minister that there would be a coup d'etat if the Islamist group Ennahda won a planned July election.

The protesters say they fear the interim administration will renege on its commitment to guide Tunisia toward democracy after the decades of autocratic rule under Ben Ali.

Reuters