Tunisia has lifted the night-time curfew, but the state of emergency which has been in force since Jan. 14 will be maintained until further notice, reported state-run TAP news agency on Tuesday.

The curfew was imposed on Jan. 13, one day before ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia in the wake of clashes which erupted between police and protesters.

The state of emergency forbids any public street gathering of three or more people, which also allows police and security forces to use their weapons against suspects who do not turn themselves in when ordered to do so.

Life in Tunisia has largely returned to normal as the caretaker government tries to stabilize the country ahead of the elections, due to take place later in 2011.

Ben Ali's ouster inspired similar protest movements across the Middle East and North Africa and was a prelude to the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Feb. 11.