By Agencies

The UN says it is concerned about the number of arrests during anti-government protests in Tunisia.

Activists in Tunisia have called for a major demonstration against the government's decision to increase taxes and the prices of basic goods, after hundreds of people were arrested in previous days of protests.

Nearly a week of sometimes violent protests across the country followed the announcement of austerity measures in this year's budget, which took effect on January 1. 

More than 770 people have been detained in nearly a week of sometimes violent demonstrations. At least one person has been killed. The UN said it was concerned about the number of arrests during the protests. 

Tunisia's main opposition Popular Front had called for demonstrations through the week.

The group #Fech_Nestannew (What are we waiting for?) also called for more protests on Friday. The protest movement began spontaneously after a few people tagged the phrase on walls across cities in Tunisia, and it quickly gained momentum.

Protests are expected to continue through January 14, the anniversary marking the removal of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the country's former president.

Troop deployment

Tunisia's army has deployed 2,100 troops in different parts of the country, with the stated aim of protecting "sovereign institutions and vital facilities", defence ministry spokesman Belhassen al-Waslati said on Thursday.

Tunisia hiked prices for fuel and some consumer goods, while taxes on items such as cars, phone calls, internet and hotel accommodation have also increased. The government defends the measures as necessary to limit a budget deficit that hit six percent of the country's GDP. 

Six years since the 2011 uprising that overthrew Ben Ali, Tunisia has been held up as a model for avoiding the violence that has affected other nations after their Arab Spring revolts.

But Tunisia's economy has struggled since the revolution, with growth remaining slow.