Tunisia's Interior Minister, Ahmed Friaa, says the country's violent protests have now killed 78 people, including members of the security forces it's also injured 94 others.

The government put the death toll earlier, at 23 by Saturday, while the opposition said, three times as many had died in the riots. Friaa, told a press conference, that security forces were told to protect people's safety, and called on Tunisians from all walks of life to safeguard their motherland.

He also said that in several incidents, armed men had been randomly shooting people from unlicensed cars. He demanded the gunmen lay down their arms and stop terrorizing civilians, or be punished.