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| Tunisia holds first election under new constitution | Tunisia holds first election under new constitution |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tunisia is voting to elect its first full parliament under a new constitution passed earlier this year. | Tunisia is voting to elect its first full parliament under a new constitution passed earlier this year. |
| The election is one of the final stages in the political transition which followed the ousting of authoritarian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. | The election is one of the final stages in the political transition which followed the ousting of authoritarian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. |
| There are no opinion polls, but the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which won Tunisia's last national election in 2011, is expected to do well. | There are no opinion polls, but the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which won Tunisia's last national election in 2011, is expected to do well. |
| Its main rival is likely to be the liberal Nidaa Tounes (Tunisia's Call). | Its main rival is likely to be the liberal Nidaa Tounes (Tunisia's Call). |
| Most of the major parties have vowed to tackle Tunisia's high unemployment and to reinvigorate its economy. | Most of the major parties have vowed to tackle Tunisia's high unemployment and to reinvigorate its economy. |
| Tunisia is seen as the birthplace of the "Arab Spring" - the pro-democracy movement which sought to replace autocratic governments in several Arab countries. | Tunisia is seen as the birthplace of the "Arab Spring" - the pro-democracy movement which sought to replace autocratic governments in several Arab countries. |
| Tunisia is considered to have had the most successful outcome, with relatively low levels of violence. | Tunisia is considered to have had the most successful outcome, with relatively low levels of violence. |
| However, radical groups within Tunisia have threatened to disrupt the elections and on Thursday militants shot a policeman on the outskirts of the capital, Tunis. | However, radical groups within Tunisia have threatened to disrupt the elections and on Thursday militants shot a policeman on the outskirts of the capital, Tunis. |
| Unity deal promised | Unity deal promised |
| More than 50,000 security personnel and nearly 20,000 soldiers are expected to be deployed on Sunday to ensure safe voting. | More than 50,000 security personnel and nearly 20,000 soldiers are expected to be deployed on Sunday to ensure safe voting. |
| On the eve of the polls, Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa warned that extremist groups could attempt to attack voting stations. | |
| "We know that this (the election) will be a target because it is unique in the region. It brings hope", he said during an inspection of troops near Tunis. | |
| Around five million Tunisians have registered to vote, with overseas residents having already cast their votes on Friday. | Around five million Tunisians have registered to vote, with overseas residents having already cast their votes on Friday. |
| Some observers fear a low turnout, arguing that voters have become disaffected with politics after a lack of economic progress in the years following Ben Ali's overthrow. | Some observers fear a low turnout, arguing that voters have become disaffected with politics after a lack of economic progress in the years following Ben Ali's overthrow. |
| Polls opened at 07:00 (06:00 GMT) and will close at 18:00 (17:00 GMT). | |
| Results are expected on Wednesday. Ennahda, which currently rules in coalition with other parties, has promised to pursue a unity government even if it wins the most seats. | Results are expected on Wednesday. Ennahda, which currently rules in coalition with other parties, has promised to pursue a unity government even if it wins the most seats. |
| Tunisia is set to hold a presidential election on 23 November, which will deliver the country's first directly elected leader following the ousting of Ben Ali in street protests almost four years ago. | Tunisia is set to hold a presidential election on 23 November, which will deliver the country's first directly elected leader following the ousting of Ben Ali in street protests almost four years ago. |
| The protests, which began in the Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid in late 2010, later gathered pace and spread across much of the Arab world the following year. | The protests, which began in the Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid in late 2010, later gathered pace and spread across much of the Arab world the following year. |
| Are you in Tunisia? What changes will full parliamentary elections bring? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Tunisia? What changes will full parliamentary elections bring? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |