Tunisia claims that ex-Prime Minister Jebali was detained.

The Tunisian administration has denied that Hamadi Jebali, the former prime minister, has been detained.

Mr. Jebali was detained by security personnel, according to a statement on his official Facebook page on Thursday.

His release was also urged by the Islamist Ennahda party.

However, the interior ministry now claims that it is looking into a factory on land owned by the former president's wife and that he insisted on accompanying her to the police station.

Tunisia's president, Kais Saied, is accused by critics of attempting to suppress dissent.

He dissolved parliament and assumed executive powers last year.