Tunisian security forces arrested 26 people on Thursday in Tunis' western Al-Karm suburb following nightlong clashes with anti-government protesters, a security official said.

Violence broke out in Al-Karm Wednesday night following the arrest of activist Emad Dgeig, who heads up a local chapter of the Revolution Watch League (RWL), an informal neighborhood watch group.

According to eyewitnesses, protesters set fire to tires and hurled rocks at security forces to protest the arrest of Dgeig, who was detained after criticizing the country's judiciary and security apparatus in a video widely shared on social media platforms.

Security forces remained stationed in the neighborhood after clashes subsided, eyewitnesses said.

Tunisia's influential General Labor Union accused the RWL, formed in the wake of the 2011 revolution, of staging riots last December outside the union's headquarters.

A recently-approved political roadmap adopted by Tunisia's political forces calls for the dissolution of the RWL.

Political tension had engulfed the first Arab Spring country since last February's assassination of Chokri Belaid, a prominent opposition figure.

But Tunisia was hailed in January for approving a new constitution and reaching a political deal that involved the appointment of a new cabinet led by secular politician Mehdi Jomaa.