Tunis, Tunisia (CNN) -- As clashes spread Tuesday, a Tunisian workers union has called on President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali to order an independent inquiry into the deaths of demonstrators protesting high unemployment and poor living conditions in Tunisia.
Nineteen people were killed during two days in riots that broke out in two Tunisian cities near its border with Algeria, a government official said Monday, but union sources said the number is closer to 50.
The unrest occurred in the cities of Thala and Kasserine, said Samir Abidi, minister of information. All of the dead were demonstrators; more than 30 police were injured, he said.
State-run television and the information ministry reported that violent clashes between police and demonstrators occurred Tuesday in a suburb of Tunis.
The union Tuesday demanded the release of demonstrators and said it will call a general strike in several southern cities in response to what it calls police brutality. It also condemned acts of vandalism.
Amnesty International said at least 23 people died in protests over the weekend, and it had received reports of more deaths on Monday.
Citing "information gathered by Amnesty International," it said security forces fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse demonstrators in Thala, Kasserine and Regueb in central Tunisia.
"The authorities must urgently ensure the safety of protesters and instruct security forces to act with restraint and not to use excessive force against them," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa deputy director. CNN
