Members of the opposition coalition that called it are suspected of crimes against the state.

A Tunisian official said the coalition’s request for the rally had "not been approved as some of its leaders are suspected of plotting against state security".

In the past month, the authorities have launched a wave of arrests of key figures including rivals and critics of President Kais Saied, with dozens of them held.

On Thursday, police arrested Sadok Chourou and Habib Ellouz - two senior officials of the main opposition party Ennahda.

The party said the arrests were meant to "terrorise the opposition" and called on Tunisians to join the planned protests.

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

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