"Tunisia is an independent and sovereign state, not under colonialism or protection and its sovereignty is above all other considerations," he said on Thursday.

He added that the country “was able to diagnose our problems”.

On Wednesday, the US said it was "deeply concerned" by the reported arrests including of politicians, business leaders and a journalist in recent days. The UN also voiced its alarm over the arrests.

But on Thursday, the president said he was acting in full respect of the law.

He on Wednesday accused some of the detained people of being traitors, responsible for soaring price increases and severe food shortages.

The country has been in a deepening political and economic crisis, amid protests by Tunisians increasingly frustrated with the economy and against Mr Saied's seizure of near-total power.

In 2021, the president shut down Tunisia’s parliament and moved to rule by decree before rewriting the country’s constitution.