UN chief lauds Tunisia's historic election

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday congratulated the Tunisian people on their landmark Constituent Assembly election, hailing it as "a key step" in the country's transition.

"The secretary-general congratulates the people and interim authorities of Tunisia for holding a historic Constituent Assembly election on Oct. 23 in a peaceful and orderly manner," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman.

The vote, held to elect the 217-member Constituent Assembly, went on smoothly Sunday, with no violence reported so far. The electoral body said that the turnout was huge. The assembly shoulders the task of drafting the country's new constitution and paving the way for legislative and presidential elections within 12 months.

"This landmark election constitutes a key step in the democratic transition of the country and significant development.

Xinhua