The US has said that it is vital that Tunisia reaches a deal with the IMF, the AFP news agency reports, amid warnings of a looming economic collapse in the country.
“The most critical thing they can do on the economic side is actually get an IMF agreement,” said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
“We would strongly encourage them to do that because the economy risks falling off the deep end,” he added.
The IMF has proposed a $2bn (£1.6bn) loan for Tunisia, but also wants to see reforms in the country.
Tunisia has a long history of economic hardship, having never recovered from the years of political turmoil that followed the overthrow of President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali in 2011.
