A 12-hour curfew across the country would come into force from 6:00 pm (1700 GMT), added a government statement carried by the official TAP news agency.
"It is forbidden for more than three persons to gather on the public highway," it said.
"The police and the army are authorised to fire on any suspect person who has not obeyed orders or fled without the possibility of being stopped."
A curfew which covered only Tunis has been spread to the whole of the country and extended from its earlier period of 9:00 pm to 5:30 am (2000 to 0430 GMT.
The new crackdown was decreed after thousands marched in Tunis calling for authoritarian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to step down after 23 years in power, before being dispersed by volleys of teargas. (*)
Reporter:
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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