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| Tunisian presidential candidates clash over poll | Tunisian presidential candidates clash over poll |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tunisia's Beji Caid Essebsi has claimed victory shortly after polls closed in the country's first free presidential election. | Tunisia's Beji Caid Essebsi has claimed victory shortly after polls closed in the country's first free presidential election. |
| His rival, caretaker President Moncef Marzouki, dismissed the claims however, saying "nothing is confirmed so far". | His rival, caretaker President Moncef Marzouki, dismissed the claims however, saying "nothing is confirmed so far". |
| Exit polls gave Mr Essebsi around 54% of the vote but official results are yet to be released. | |
| Tunisia was the first country to depose its leader in the Arab Spring and inspired other uprisings in the region. | Tunisia was the first country to depose its leader in the Arab Spring and inspired other uprisings in the region. |
| Mr Essebsi appeared on local television on Sunday, saying, "I dedicate my victory to the martyrs of Tunisia", he said. | Mr Essebsi appeared on local television on Sunday, saying, "I dedicate my victory to the martyrs of Tunisia", he said. |
| "I thank Marzouki, and now we should work together without excluding anyone," he added. | "I thank Marzouki, and now we should work together without excluding anyone," he added. |
| However, a spokesman for Mr Marzouki said the claims were "without foundation". | However, a spokesman for Mr Marzouki said the claims were "without foundation". |
| An exit poll by firm Sigma Conseil gave Mr Essebsi 55.5% of the vote. Other polling firms reportedly gave similar figures. | |
| Mr Essebsi, who represents the secular-leaning Nidaa Tounes party, won the first round of voting last month with 39% of the vote. | Mr Essebsi, who represents the secular-leaning Nidaa Tounes party, won the first round of voting last month with 39% of the vote. |
| Voter turnout had reached 36.8% after four and a half hours of voting, Tunisia's election authority said. | Voter turnout had reached 36.8% after four and a half hours of voting, Tunisia's election authority said. |
| 'Peaceful' transition | 'Peaceful' transition |
| Mr Essebsi, who turned 88 this week, held office under both deposed President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali and Tunisia's first post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba. | Mr Essebsi, who turned 88 this week, held office under both deposed President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali and Tunisia's first post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba. |
| He is popular in the wealthy, coastal regions, and based his appeal to voters on stability and experience. | He is popular in the wealthy, coastal regions, and based his appeal to voters on stability and experience. |
| His opponent, Moncef Marzouki, is a 67-year-old human rights activists forced into exile by the Ben Ali government. | His opponent, Moncef Marzouki, is a 67-year-old human rights activists forced into exile by the Ben Ali government. |
| He has been interim president since 2011 and is more popular in the conservative, poorer south. | He has been interim president since 2011 and is more popular in the conservative, poorer south. |
| After casting his ballot, Mr Marzouki said Tunisians "should be proud" of themselves "because the interim period has come to a peaceful end". | After casting his ballot, Mr Marzouki said Tunisians "should be proud" of themselves "because the interim period has come to a peaceful end". |
| Presidential powers | Presidential powers |
| Mr Marzouki was thought likely to attract support from the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which has played a key role in Tunisian politics since the Arab Spring but did not field a candidate. | Mr Marzouki was thought likely to attract support from the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which has played a key role in Tunisian politics since the Arab Spring but did not field a candidate. |
| Whoever wins faces restricted powers under a constitution passed earlier this year. | Whoever wins faces restricted powers under a constitution passed earlier this year. |
| The president will be commander-in-chief of the armed forces but can appoint or sack senior officers only in consultation with the prime minister. | The president will be commander-in-chief of the armed forces but can appoint or sack senior officers only in consultation with the prime minister. |
| The president will also set foreign policy in consultation with the prime minister, represent the state and ratify treaties. | The president will also set foreign policy in consultation with the prime minister, represent the state and ratify treaties. |
| Tunisia boosted security for the elections and closed border posts with Libya, which has been plagued by unrest. | Tunisia boosted security for the elections and closed border posts with Libya, which has been plagued by unrest. |
| A group of at least three attackers targeted a polling station near the city of Kairouan on Sunday morning. Security forces say they killed one attacker and arrested three. | A group of at least three attackers targeted a polling station near the city of Kairouan on Sunday morning. Security forces say they killed one attacker and arrested three. |