One policeman was killed in clashes between security forces and protesters demanding jobs in Tunisia's western-central province of Kasserine, a security official said today.

The protests in Kasserine started at the weekend after an unemployed young man reportedly suffered a deadly electric shock when he climbed a power pole to protest a rejected job application.

His death was reminiscent of the Dec 17, 2010, self-immolation of street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi that sparked anti-government protests across Tunisia, which then spread across North Africa and the Middle East.

Bouazizi's death triggered a popular uprising and ended the rule of longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The violence in Kasserine late yesterday left an unspecified number of security personnel injured, Interior Ministry spokesperson Walid Wkini said.

He said "extremist elements" took part in the protests.

In a bid to ease tensions in Kasserine, the government yesterday unveiled measures including the creation of 5,000 jobs and financing small-scale projects there.

Jobseekers held protests in other parts of Tunisia today, including the north-western city of Jendouba and Kebili in the south, residents said.

Protesters demanded the government provide them with jobs and develop their impoverished communities. No violence was reported.

Unemployment rates in Tunisia are estimated to have reached around 15 percent, against 12 percent in 2010.

Tunisia is widely seen as the sole democratic success story of the 2010-11 Arab revolts.

However, the country has been in the grip of an economic slowdown resulting from the unrest that followed Ben Ali's overthrow.

Tunisia is also struggling against a militant insurgency. Tourism, one of country's main income sources, has been hard hit by militant attacks.

- dpa