Thousands of anti-government protesters marched through the capital, Tunis
At least seven police have been killed in Tunisia in clashes with Islamist militants, reports say.
A heavy exchange of gunfire was reported in the central region of Sidi Bouzid and at least two militants were also reported killed.
The violence came as the Islamist-led government and opposition began talks to end months of political crisis.
Thousands of anti-government protesters marched through the capital, Tunis, calling on the prime minster to resign.
Parliament speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar said he expected PM Ali Larayedh to announce his intention to stand down.
A coalition led by the moderate Islamist Ennahda party was elected in 2011. Last month Ennahda agreed in principle to relinquish power, in an effort to end Tunisia's political deadlock.
The crisis was triggered by the assassinations of two secular opposition leaders earlier this year.
It has threatened to disrupt a democratic transition that began after Tunisians threw out their decades-old authoritarian government at the beginning of the 2011 uprisings, widely referred to as the Arab Spring.
Militant groups
Since the 2011 revolt, Tunisia has seen a rise in attacks by militants.
The latest violence comes just days after Tunisian security forces killed at least nine suspected Islamist militants who the authorities said had carried out a deadly attack on a police patrol.
At least three other suspects were arrested in the operation in the Mount Taouyer area, about 70km (44 miles) west of Tunis.
The interior ministry blamed militants belonging to the Salafist Ansar al-Sharia group, who were linked to the murders of prominent left-wing figure Chokri Belaid in February and opposition politician Mohammed Brahmi in July.
Their deaths triggered mass protests against the government.
Ennahda condemned the killings but the opposition accused it of failing to rein in radical Islamists - charges it strongly denies.
Several other militant groups - including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - also operate in the region.
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