The Guardian: Human rights campaigners and activists have accused Tunisian authorities of an indiscriminate crackdown “of inexplicable violence” as the country braces itself for a weekend of massive protests.

More than 500 protesters have now been arrested and the army deployed in several cities after days of anti-government demonstrations.

Some protests have turned violent, with dozens of police officers injured. One demonstrator has died.

In Thala, near the Algerian border, troops were sent in after protesters burned down a national security building on Wednesday night, forcing police to retreat from the town, witnesses said.

The unrest began at the weekend after a small gathering of civil society and opposition activists in Tunis, the capital, was broken up by police. Almost all the country, including in the tourist resort of Sousse, has been affected since.

Activist leaders have accused authorities of targeting people who are not breaking the law >>>