Crisis-hit Tunisia, which has one of the world's highest coronavirus death rates, received 1.5 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from Italy, the president's office announced.

President Kais Saied, who a week ago dismissed the prime minister and suspended parliament, was on hand to receive the consignment and launched a stinging attack on the performance of the ousted government.

“More than a year has gone by, meeting after meeting has been held, and yet people are being hospitalised and dying by the hundreds each day,” he said.

Apart from political and economic crises, the North African country of almost 12 million inhabitants has suffered close to 20,000 Covid-related deaths, according to AFP.