Protesters and police clash in Kerkennah, Tunisia

Clashes erupted on Thursday evening in Kerkennah, an island off the east coast of Tunisia, between police and demonstrators.

Police used tear gas and water jets to disperse protesters who threw stones at law enforcement officers.

However, Tunisia’s interior ministry has denied protesters claims, releasing a statement claiming that police were forced to intervene after protesters blocking the access of six trucks into the Petrofac factory had targeted security officers with stones and bottles.

Residents of the island have been carrying out protests against a British oil company Petrofac, which they accuse of denying jobs to unemployed youth on the island.

According to media reports, eight people were injured in the clashes including 5 policemen.

Tensions on the island originally surfaced on April 4 after police forcefully dispersed a sit-in by unemployed graduates that had been blocking access to the Petrofac plant.