Major power outage hits Tunisia cities

A major power outage hit the Tunisian capital, its suburbs and other areas of the country on Sunday, residents said, without any immediate explanation for the cut.

The cities of Hammamet in northern Tunisia, Monastir in the east and Zarzis in the south were left without electricity from after 6 pm (1700 GMT), said local residents contacted by AFP.

There was no immediate word from the government or electricity authority for the outage.

"A general power cut has hit most of Tunisia's territory. The reasons are unknown," said the private Radio Mosaique FM.

The Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG) is operating on a heavy deficit and has warned of increased power cuts, while its employees are threatening strike action in mid-September in protest at a new law on renewable energies.