President Beji Caid Essebsi said Wednesday that the army will protect the output of Tunisia's main resources from being disrupted by protests over social and labour issues.

"We know this is a serious decision but it must be taken," Essebsi said in a speech in Tunis.

The Tunisian government has faced growing social discontent over the economy, especially in inland regions, with protesters often staging sit-ins that block access to production sites.

"When they (demonstrators) get angry, they cut off roads. The roads belong to everyone and the state must face this," the president said.

He singled out the phosphate industry in the central mining region of Gafsa that had "come to a halt for five years".

"What do we have? We have phosphate, petrol and tourism, we have agriculture," including olive oil, he said. "The state must also protect the resources of the Tunisian people."

Six years since a revolution that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has not been able to resolve issues of poverty, unemployment and corruption that sparked the uprising.