Tunisian Islamist leader Rached Ghannouchi on Sunday returned to his homeland on Sunday from London after more than 20 years in exile. Ghannouchi's historic return comes as the new government unveiled unprecedented democratic freedoms including lifting media controls, releasing political prisoners and registering banned parties.
According to AFP, the 69 year old still officially faces a life sentence from the toppled regime hanging over him for plotting against the state. However, the new government has drawn up an amnesty, which still has to be approved by the country's parliament.
Some 1000 members of Ghannouchi's Ennahdha movement, which was banned under former President Ben Ali, came to Tunis airport to greet him.
