In a first test for "Arab Spring" country, Tunisia holds its first-ever free elections Sunday with the Islamic party Ennahda poised to win the biggest bloc of ballots. The historic vote is being held nine months after the toppling of president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.
From 7:00 am (0600 GMT), some 7.2 million eligible voters can elect a 217-member assembly that will write a new constitution after decades of dictatorship.
Meanwhile, Tunisia's interim president Foued Mebazaa said he would step down after the election. "I will recognize the results whoever wins and whatever the color of the majority", Mebazaa told the Arabic language Assabah appearing Sunday.
"I shall hand over power to whoever is chosen by the constituent assembly as the new president of the republic," he said.
"Sunday's elections may spring political surprises as they are the first pluralist, democratic elections since the revolution", the interim president said. "I am confident about the moderation of the Tunisian people and their leaders and I'm optimistic about the future of Tunisia and the smooth running of the elections," Mebazaa added.
