TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia is extending a state of emergency that was first called during street unrest after the fall of the North African nation's longtime autocratic leader 18 months ago.

Adnene Mancer, a spokesman in President Moncef Marzouki's office, said Tuesday that the measure will continue only through the end of August given "the notable improvement in the general security situation in the country."

It was the seventh time the measure has been extended since it was first called during unrest after the fall of the Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.

The state of emergency notably allows soldiers and police to fire on those who refuse orders to stop.

The toppling of Ben Ali, in exile in Saudi Arabia, sparked the Arab Spring.