TUNIS, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A Tunisian court on Sunday sentenced two Islamists to death by firing squad after finding them guilty of trying to overthrow the government, defence lawyers and court officials said.

Imed Ben Amer and Saber Ragoub were among 30 men put on trial after being arrested following clashes between police and a group of radical Islamists in the Tunis suburbs in December 2006 and January 2007.

A total of 14 gunmen were killed in the clashes, rare events in the stable North African country. The court jailed eight defendants for life, sentenced seven to 30-year jail terms and the remaining 13 to prison terms of between five and 20 years for belonging to a terrorist group, disturbing public order and getting military training.

The defendants, who are entitled to appeal against their convictions, denied the charges and said they had made confessions to the police because they had been beaten.

"I was forced to give the information as I was beaten by police," defendant Mohamed Bakhti told the court.

When judge Mehrez Hammami interrupted him, Bakhti asked him "What is the difference between you and the police?"

Defence lawyers walked out of the court in protest, saying the trial was unfair. (Reporting by Tarek Amara and Sonia Ounissi; editing by Tim Pearce)

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