Shouting, "No to coups, yes to elections", supporters of the ruling Ennahda party on Saturday crowded into Kasbah Square next to the prime minister's office in the capital, Tunis.

Ennahda party called on supporters of the embattled government to join the rally to push back against a week of mass protests calling for the government's removal.

"We support the legitimacy of the government because we care about Tunisia and we care about democracy, not Ennahda," said 40-year-old Suad Nasri, a Tunisian flag wrapped around her head. "I'm not an Ennahda backer, but I want our democracy to succeed."

Kasbah Square was the site of major rallies in the days after autocratic President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali was toppled in 2011, with demonstrators demanding a transitional constituent assembly to draft a new constitution - one of the bodies the opposition is now demanding be dissolved.

Earlier on Saturday, Tunisia's prime minister appealed for calm from pro- and anti-government groups planning rival mass rallies this weekend.

The North African country is experiencing increased attacks by fighters at a time when the secularist opposition is trying to topple the government.

"Tunisia is in need of national unity. ... I call for calm so that the army and security forces can combat terrorism and not waste its efforts on protests," Prime Minister Ali Larayedh told a news conference.
 

The opposition, which has been rallying daily, is planning a march on Sunday.

The Interior Ministry said on Saturday that security forces foiled an attempted assassination on Friday of a prominent politician in the coastal town of Sousse, a week after assailants gunned down a leftist politician in the capital.

The ministry said two "dangerous terrorists" were arrested for suspected involvement in the attempt. A third suspect was still on the run after trading machinegun fire with security forces, the ministry said.

SHI/SHI