Esther Imonmion
Hundreds of people have marched through the streets of Gabes, a city in southern Tunisia, over the past two weeks to denounce what they describe as an environmental and health catastrophe.
On Tuesday, offices and shops remained closed as thousands of workers joined a general strike, demanding the closure of a government-owned phosphate processing plant accused of emitting poisonous gases.
Researchers have reported that some of the waste discharged by the factory is radioactive and poses cancer risks.
Opposition to the plant dates back several years. The government had promised to shut it down in 2017 but reversed its decision this year, announcing plans to increase production instead.
The latest protests, led mostly by young people, have gripped the city of about 400,000 residents since they began two weeks ago.