TUNIS - Two people were killed and at least 17 others injured in a clash between protesters and police on Saturday night in Kef, a city 220 km west of the Tunisian capital.

Protesters called for the dismissal of the city's police chief, Khaled Ghazouani, due to his relationship with ousted president Ben Ali's powerful RCD party and for abuse of power, state TV reported.

The clash flared up after Ghazouani slapped a woman in a demonstration.

Dozens of people gathered at the government building demanding Ghazouani's dismissal, witnesses said. Police opened fire at the protesters, killing two people.

The incident in Kev is among the most serious in the past few weeks following the suicide of Mohamed Bouazizi who set himself on fire last December, sparking nationwide protests which led to the ouster of Ben Ali and the collapse of his regime.