Polling stations open for Tunisians to elect next pres.

TUNIS, Sept 15 (KUNA) -- Polling stations opened on Sunday for Tunisians to vote for a new president in an early presidential election after the death of the late President Beji Caid Essebsi.
Head of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) Nabil Baffoun said that polling stations were opened in all Tunisian governorates at 08:00 a.m. local time, except for offices located in rural areas and military areas, which are scheduled to open at 10:00 a.m.
Voter turnout is still low, Baffoun said at the first election conference on Sunday, adding that the number of registered Tunisian voters exceeds seven million.
For his part, the Interim President of Tunisia Mohamed Ennaceur on Sunday casted his vote at the polling station in Sidi Bou Said town, underlining in a press statement that the values and principles of the constitution on the second chapter stipulates that Tunisia is based on the supremacy of the law, making the election both a right and duty.
Ennaceur called on Tunisians to base their vote on who they trust, stressing that the high percentage of voting will enhance national unity.
Over seven million Tunisians are registered, each will be voting among 26 candidates. (end) ksj.lr