Tunisians have lowered flags and state television is playing recitations of the Koran to mourn dozens who died in protests that drove the country's iron-fisted president from power.

The government has declared three days of national mourning beginning today.

The interior minister says 78 civilians were killed in nearly a month of protests, many shot by police during protests over unemployment, corruption and repression.

A French photographer was also killed as were some members of the security forces, and scores of people were injured.

President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia a week ago.

The caretaker government is struggling to restore calm.