The government headquarters is barricaded at the Casbah square in the Tunisian capital Tunis on July 26, 2021. (ANIS MILI / AFP)

TUNIS - Tunisian security and military units were deployed to protect the government headquarters in Tunis by blocking all access and preventing officials from reaching their workplace in the government.

The measure came as Tunisian President Kais Saied announced on Sunday evening that he had removed Hichem Mechichi from the post of prime minister and suspended all activities of the Assembly of People's Representatives, the parliament.

At dawn on Monday, units of the Tunisian National Army prevented Tunisia's parliament speaker Rached Ghannouchi, accompanied by other deputies, from entering the parliament headquarters in the district of Bardo

Saied said he will temporarily head the government until he appoints a new prime minister. The president also announced that he annulled the immunity of all parliament members.

Saied has also dismissed two ministers in the government of Mechichi, the Tunisian presidency said Monday.

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According to a presidency statement, Saied has removed Minister of Defense Ibrahim Bartaji and Minister to the Head of Government in charge of the civil service and acting Minister of Justice Hasna Ben Slimane.

"This decision entered into force on Sunday," read a presidency statement.

The secretaries general or those in charge of administrative and financial affairs at the presidency and within the ministries have been cahrged with ensuring the interim until the appointment of a new head of government and the formation of a new government.

At dawn on Monday, units of the Tunisian National Army prevented Tunisia's parliament speaker Rached Ghannouchi, accompanied by other deputies, from entering the parliament headquarters in the district of Bardo.

Amid tight security measures, dozens of Tunisians gathered in front of the parliament.

Saied also announced to extend the hours of night curfew across the country from 7 pm to 6 am local time between July 26 and Aug 27, the presidency said in a statement on Monday.

"The president issued a decree imposing the ban ... with the exception of urgent cases and people who work at night," the statement said.

This decree prohibits the movement of people and vehicles between cities during the curfew, except for essential emergencies or for urgent health reasons.

"Any gathering of more than three people on public roads is also prohibited," the statement added.

Meanwhile, Saied issued another decree on the suspension of work in central administrations, external services, local communities and public administrative institutions for two days, starting from July 27.

Administrations offering online services are responsible for ensuring the continuity of work.

This decision "does not involve the internal security forces, the army, customs agents as well as employees operating public health establishments," it added.  

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Violent protests broke out on Sunday in several Tunisian provinces as protesters expressed anger at the deterioration of the North African nation's health, economic and social situations, calling for the departure of the government and the dissolution of the parliament chaired by Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahdha party.