TUNIS – Tunisians are casting ballots in their North African country’s second democratic presidential election, choosing among 26 candidates for a leader who can safeguard its young democracy and tackle its unemployment, corruption and economic despair.
The voting followed a noisy but brief campaign — 12 days — marked by backbiting and charges of corruption among the contenders. All vowed to boost the country’s flagging economy and protect it from further deadly attacks by Islamist extremists.
More than 100,000 security forces were on guard Sunday — 70,000 police and 32,000 troops — as 7 million registered voters went to the polls. There was no clear favorite, suggesting that Sunday’s vote will only be the first round of the presidential election. (AP)
