Ben Ali wins 99% of Tunisian vote

Tunis - President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia won a third five-year term, garnering more than 99 per cent of the vote …

Tunis - President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia won a third five-year term, garnering more than 99 per cent of the vote in Sunday's elections, the interior ministry said yesterday. The result had never been in doubt, despite the presence for the first time of two token opposition candidates. Mr Ben Ali (62) has been in office 12 years and his ruling Constitutional Democratic Rally also kept its strong grip on parliament, winning 148 out of 182 seats. He has maintained stability in a volatile region which includes Libya and Algeria, where Muslim fundamentalists have been fighting to overthrow the government since 1992.