Ben Ali: elections will be transparent, democratic

The Tunisian president Zine al-Abidin Ben Ali said yesterday that the presidential and legislative elections due to be held on October 24 will be held in a "democratic and transparent atmosphere." The president, who has been ruling Tunisia since 17 years, has been nominated for a fourth term of office together with other three candidates of the recognized opposition.

Ben Ali said in an election gathering marking the launch of the election campaign, before 20,000 of his party supporters at the exhibitions palace in al-Karam near Tunis, that the elections are an opportunity for work and winning more supporters "under the multi democratic system we were careful to establish and enhance through guaranteeing nomination for the presidency and consolidating multi political pluralism at the parliament."

Ben Ali, the candidate for the democratic constitutional coalition party, said "we have provided for these elections all transparency conditions and availed the possibility to each and every one to follow it up in brotherly and sisterly countries to follow up the various stages of these elections."