U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made a surprise visit to Tunisia on Tuesday to offer America's continued support and assistance to the North African country where uprisings that toppled long-ruling leaders around the Arab world first ignited in 2011.
During meetings with a slew of Tunisian officials on Tuesday, U.S. officials reported that Kerry would call on the Tunisian government to cement and solidify the democratic reforms written in the newly adopted constitution that was formally accepted earlier this year, the Associated Press reported.
The new Tunisian constitution, which was agreed upon after tumultuous two-year drafting process - has been called one of the "most progressive constitutions" in the Middle East, according to AP.
The constitution is a result of compromise between liberals and Islamists, and it safeguards freedom and religion and women's rights in its text.
Kerry is in Tunis for the unannounced visit en-route from Abu Dhabi to Paris, where he will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, AP reported.
