Tunisia’s Prime Minister yesterday proposed holding fresh elections in December, and said that the Islamist-led transitional government would go on with its work despite mounting efforts to dissolve it.

Ali Larayedh accused the secular opposition, which has launched widespread protests against the ruling Islamist Ennahda party, of being “coupists”.

“The government will continue performing its duties and it will not abandon them, not because it is keen to hold power, and we will maintain our responsibilities until the final moment,” he said in televised speech.

“We will focus on holding the elections by the end of this year and our date is December 17.”

The date is symbolic – it was the day in 2010 when vegetable vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in an act of protest, triggering demonstrations in 2011 that toppled Tunisia’s autocratic ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. They also inspired other uprisings across the Arab world. The Prime Minister promised free and transparent elections and said international observers would be welcome.

The Prime Minister’s proposal came as pro- and anti-government demonstrators clashed in two Tunisian cities yesterday. Witnesses said tensions were rising over opposition efforts to oust the Islamist-led government.

Angry opposition protesters tried to storm municipal offices in Sidi Bouzid and stop employees there from working, sparking clashes between them and supporters of the Islamist Ennahda party, which leads the transitional government.

The army intervened and police fired tear gas, but residents said demonstrators still gathered in the southern city, the cradle of the revolt that overthrew President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.