Tunisia Latest: Government Says "Message Received" From Protests

2005 GMT: Footage has just been posted which claims to be of a protest tonight in Bizerte.

2000 GMT: Indeed, as we read the reassurances of the Minister of Interior, we see a video of demonstrators burning a poster of President Ben Ali.

1945 GMT: For the record, last night Algérie Plus published an interview with Minister of Interior Daho Ould Kablia, in which he put out the main talking points of the Government. He said the situation was "relatively calm", with the assurance that the challenge to the regime had been defeated and that economic issues would be met with organisation and resources.

Meanwhile, as universities and schools are indefinitely closed, footage continues to circulate of protests.

Tunisia Analysis: Mis-Reporting the Story

1900 GMT: The Government has ordered the indefinite closure of all schools and universities. The Ministry of Education announced, "Following violence in universities and lycees, and while awaiting an investigation to establish who was responsible for inciting students, we have decided to stop all the lessons in all educational establishments...from tomorrow, Tuesday, until further notice."

1645 GMT: In contrast to the conciliatory noises from his Minister (see 1400 GMT), President Ben Ali has declared in his nationally-televised speech that protesters are guilty of a "terrorist act". (Full speech now in separate entry.)

He said:

The events were violent, sometimes bloody, have killed civilians and injured several members of law enforcement. The events were the work of masked bands who attacked at night in public buildings and even civilians from their homes during a terrorist act that can not be silent."

1525 GMT: President Ben Ali is now speaking on national television.

1512 GMT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called in the US charge d'affaires to protest the State Department's declaration of concern on Friday over events in Tunisia.

The Ministry told the US diplomat,"We maintain all liberties, including freedom of assembly, guaranteed by the Constitution and Tunisian law. These assemblies are never forbidden for those who are peaceful and non-violent."

1510 GMT: A video posted 30 minutes ago claims to be of a demonstration in Tunis.

1430 GMT: The spokesman for the European Union's representative for foreign policy, Catherine Ashton on Monday issued the demand, "We call for restraint in the use of force and respect for fundamental freedoms. We call in particular for the immediate release of bloggers, journalists, lawyers and other detainees, who were demonstrating peacefully in Tunisia."

Maja Kocijancik said Ashton was "worried" by the violence and she called for dialgoue amongst all parties "to find a solution to the problems raised by the protesters".

1400 GMT: Minister of Communications Samir al-Obaidy has told Al Jazeera that ministers are now listening to the demands of protesters, after weeks of demonstrations and a weekend in which dozens were killed in clashes with security forces.

Al-Obaidy said,  "The message has been received by the government and all political channels. With the backing of the president, we have already put in place urgent measures and allocated $5bn for the development of various areas."

The Government has revised the "official" figure to 14 killed since Saturday in the confrontation between the security forces and protesters in areas such as Thala, Kasserine, and Regueb. Activists reports the toll is at least 20 and one outlet says 51 died. Blogger Lina Ben Mhenni said "a lawyer [has] confirmed that more than 20 people were killed in Thala and Gassrine alone".

In a statement, several political parties and movements, including the Progressive Democratic Party and the Renewal Movement, have called for "a ceasefire and the return of all military and security forces to their compounds", as well as the "release of all detainees including political ones".

Despite the Government's latest statement, video is circulating of more protests. Ben Mhenni said the demonstrations had spread to Sousse in eastern Tunisia. She added that Facebook, which had been hacked by Government services, and e-mails are still blocked.

On Sunday, officials released the rapper "El General" (Hamada Ben-Amor). He had been arrested after putting his music, "President, Your People are Dying", highlighting the problems of youth and unemployment, on the Internet (see video in separate feature).