Essebsi &Marzouki for Tunisia presidential runoff

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Essebsi &Marzouki to run for Tunisia presidential runoff

Tunisia to hold a runoff in its presidential election next month.This is seen as the final step in the country’s transition to democracy. Election commission announced on Tuesday that no candidate won a majority in Sunday’s poll.

Leader of the secular outfit  Nidaa Tounes party, Beji Caid Essebsi, led the race with 39 percent. His party won most seats in the parliamentary election last month.
Next in the race is the Interim president Moncef Marzouki followed with 33 percent.

Marzouki camp stressed that Essebsi held a senior post under ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. They warned that if Essebsi becomes the country’s leader, autocratic rule could return.The Essebsi camp criticizes the interim government for an economic slump.

Pro-democracy protests started in Tunisia after an unemployed young man committed suicide by setting himself on fire in 2010.In January 2011, demonstrators ousted Ben Ali who had been in office for 23 years.

The movement for democracy inspired other protests in North Africa and the Middle East, known as the Arab Spring.