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Tunisia elections: Law professor Kais Saeid officially becomes president

TUNISIA, Oct 14 (KUNA) -- Law professor Kais Saeid was officially named Tunisia's president on Monday after a landslide 72.71 percent second round election victory.
The elections commission announced the official results, which saw Saeid clinch 2.8 million votes compared to media mogul Nabil Karoui's one million votes.
Saeid, 61, becomes the country's second democratically-elected leader since a revolution ousted Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.
Tunisia decided to hold early elections following the death of former president Beji Caid Essebsi in July.
Saeid is for reinstating the death penalty, abolished in 1994, and has called for electoral reforms, including changes to regional elections.
Despite declaring himself an independent candidate, he has gained the backing of several parties, most notably the moderately Islamist-leaning Ennahda.
His rival is 56-year-old media mogul Nabil Karoui, who represents the Heart of Tunisia party, was recently acquitted by court after being arrested on money laundering and tax fraud charges during his campaign.
The contest witnessed a turnout of a total 3.9 million voters, representing 55 percent of the eligible population, the election commission said. (end) ksj.sd