Tunisian police fire on protesters, one dead

Tunisia's government regretted on Saturday the death of a man killed by security forces during protests over unemployment and high inflation but insisted the government had to prevent violent protests.
Hafnawi al-Maghazoui, 22, was killed by a bullet in the lung when police opened fire, while 22 other protesters were wounded; union leader Adnen Hajji told Reuters.
Social unrest has rumbled on in Redeyef and the wider phosphate mining region of Gafsa for two months.
Police made brief arrests in Redeyef in April after clashes with stone-throwing demonstrators.Since January Gafsa has seen sporadic protests against a rise in the cost of living and corruption.
"The security forces came under assault from thrown flammable objects and were obliged to intervene to neutralize certain people who were making them," said an official in Tunis who declined to be named.
Police fired guns to disperse hundreds of youths rioting over joblessness and rising living costs in southwest Tunisia, leaving one dead and several injured.
A government source put the toll of injured at three police officers and five demonstrators.
"We regret this incident," Justice and Human Rights Minister Bechir Tekkari said at a news conference, a day after violent protests left one dead and several injured.
"Such disturbances are rare in Tunisia," he added.He stressed that security forces were determined to prevent any threats to public order and defended tough police action to protect people.
"We won't tolerate any use of violence," he said, referring to protests in the region against unemployment.Friday's clash took place in Redeyef, in a mining region some 350 kilometers (217 miles) from the capital Tunis.The minister rejected claims that police fired without warning, saying that security forces acted lawfully.
He said the situation spiraled out of control when police attacked a group of individuals who were making Molotov cocktails after some were thrown at security forces.Rising food and fuel prices have sparked riots and strikes around the world in recent months.