(FILES) This file photo taken on January 22, 2011 shows Tunisian sanitary workers demonstrating in front to Tunis city hall on January 22, 2011 in Tunis. AFP / FETHI BELAID

Tunisian authorities have decided to prolong for another month the state of emergency declared after the November attack on elite presidential guards in the capital.

The office of President Beji Caid Essebsi said Monday that the decision was made in consultation with government and parliamentary officials.

The November suicide attack in downtown Tunis killed 12 members of the presidential guard.

The state of emergency confers exceptional powers on Tunisian authorities, notably to forbid strikes and public gatherings, close movie theaters and control the press.

Attacks in 2015, at the Bardo museum in Tunis in March and at a resort near Sousse in June, killed scores, mainly foreign tourists.

Tunisia lifted a state of emergency last October imposed after the June resort massacre only to reimpose it in November.