Protesters angered by the government’s decision to reopen a dumpsite in the southern town of Agareb, Tunisia, set fire to a police station on Tuesday, witnesses said.

The Agareb landfill, 20km from Sfax, was closed this year after residents complained about the spread of diseases in what they described as an environmental disaster.

The closure caused thousands of tons of household waste to accumulate for about a month in the streets, markets, and hospitals of Sfax, the second largest Tunisian city, prompting thousands to protest.

The escalation of the protest came a day after the death of a man caused by asphyxiation from gas fired by the police, according to his family and witnesses.

The interior ministry said the man was not involved in the protests and had died at his home, six kilometres away.

Violent confrontations took place on the town’s streets as police fired tear gas to disperse protesters trying to block roads and throw stones at them.

The incident is the first serious test facing Najla Boden’s government, appointed by president Kais Saied last month, in how to respond to protests over poor public services and fragile social and environmental conditions.

Mr Saied has faced mounting criticism since he assumed executive authority in July, brushing aside most of the constitution to seize almost total power in what critics have described as a coup.

(Reuters/NAN)