Protesters have clashed with police for a third consecutive night in Tunisia after a journalist set himself on fire and died to denounce the economic problems engulfing the North African nation.

National Guard spokesman Housameddine Jebabli said on Thursday that protests took place in six different towns including Kasserine, in west central Tunisia, where journalist Abderrazak Zorgui set himself ablaze this week.

Interior minister spokesman Sofiane Zaag said 14 people were arrested overnight, in addition to the 18 arrests announced on Wednesday.

Protests started after Mr Zorgui posted a video online before his self-immolation calling for a revolt.

He expressed frustration at the country’s high unemployment rate and the unfulfilled promises of Tunisia’s 2011 Arab Spring revolution.

A similar self-immolation led to nationwide protests that brought down Tunisia’s long-time authoritarian president in 2011.

The most violent protests took place in Kasserine, where police used tear gas to disperse stone-throwing demonstrators.

According to ShemsFM radio, the military was deployed to help police tackle the protests and secure state buildings.

In Tunis, dozens of protesters gathered on Bourguiba Avenue — the capital city’s main road — to protest costs of living increases and chanted slogans hostile to the regime.

Meanwhile, Kasserine tribunal spokesman Achref Youssefi said an investigation “for failure to assist a person in danger” has been opened following the death of Mr Zorgui. He said a suspect has been arrested.

A similar self-immolation, by a street vendor lamenting unemployment, corruption and repression, led to nationwide protests fuelled by social media that brought down Tunisia’s long-time authoritarian president in 2011.

That ushered in democracy for Tunisia and unleashed similar movements around the Arab world.