Tunisia counting ballots, Ennadha ahead

Election officials in Tunisia have begun counting the ballots of the country’s first free election, with forecasts predicting the moderate Islamist Ennahda Party will get the most votes.

The turnout for Sunday’s assembly election exceeded 90 percent, Reuters reported early on Monday morning.

Tunisians cast their ballots in the country’s first free election since it achieved independence from France in 1956, which is also the next step in the transition that began when dictator Zine El Abidine Bin Ali was ousted nine months ago.

They are voting to select the members of an assembly that will appoint a new interim government as well as draft a new constitution.

A total of 10,000 candidates are running in the election. More than 100 parties and a number of independents have registered to participate, with the moderate Islamist Ennahda Party expected to win the most seats in the assembly.

Former President Ben Ali was ousted by massive street protests in January after 23 years in power and fled to Saudi Arabia.