North Africa:Tunisia counts votes in historic free election-October 24, 2011

Tunisians have voted in their first truly free elections. Tunisian election officials are counting votes after Sunday’s election, the first free poll of the Arab Spring.

More than 90% of registered voters turned out to cast their ballots, officials say.
Tunisians are electing a 217-seat assembly that will draft a constitution and appoint an interim government.

The US and EU have praised Tunisia on the peaceful election process, with President Barack Obama saying the vote was “an important step forward”.

Former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown nine months ago after mass demonstrations – he had been in power for 23 years.

Electoral commission secretary-general Boubaker Bethabet said more than 90% of the 4.1 million registered citizens had voted. No turnout figures were available for another 3.1 million unregistered people who also had the right to vote.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15425407

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