Tunisian army prevents Ghannouchi from entering Parliament

SANAA, Jul. 26 (YPA) – The Tunisian army prevented in Monday morning Rached Ghannouchi, Speaker of Parliament, from entering the parliament building, hours after President Kais Saied announced the freezing of parliament’s activity.

Reuters quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the Tunisian army prevented Rached Ghannouchi, Speaker of Parliament, from entering the parliament building.

For his part, Ghannouchi said in front of the gate of the parliament closed by the army: “I am prohibited from entering parliament, even though I am its speaker,” calling on “all Tunisian parliamentarians to do their duty and exercise their authority.”

Ghannouchi added in a live broadcast on his Facebook page: “There is no value to life as long as freedom is threatened,” adding: “The Tunisian people will not accept a return to the eras of tyranny.”

Earlier, Ghannouchi called on Tunisians to take to the streets to end what he described as a coup.

On Sunday, the Tunisian President announced the freezing of Parliament, the suspension of the immunity of all deputies based on Article 80 of the Constitution, and the dismissal of Prime Minister Hisham Al-Mashishi against the backdrop of violent protests that took place in several cities.