Tunis - Two political outsiders are set to go head-to-head in the race to become Tunisia's next president, according to the latest count after a first round of voting on Sunday.

Tunis - Political outsider Kais Saied was leading Tunisia's elections with just over a quarter of votes counted, the electoral commission said Monday, in the country's second free presidential vote since the Arab Spring.

Tunis - Two dozen candidates, including two women, are vying to replace Tunisia's late leader Beji Caid Essebsi in Sunday's presidential polls.

Tunis - Eight years after triggering the Arab Spring, Tunisia is held up as a model of democratic transition, while other countries that experienced the uprisings are gripped by chaos, repression or war.

Tunis - Rarely has the outcome of an election been so uncertain in Tunisia, the cradle and partial success story of the Arab Spring, as some seven million voters head to the polls Sunday to choose from a crowded field.

Tunis - Tunisia's prime minister said exiled former autocrat Zine el Abidine Ben Ali would be allowed to return home if he was critically ill as reported by his lawyer."I will give my green light for his return. It's a humanitarian case.

Tunis - Tunisia will hold on Sunday its second free presidential election by universal suffrage since the 2011 uprising that toppled an autocratic regime, with growing uncertainty over who will reach the next round.

Tunis - Chastened by its early experiences of holding power in post-revolution Tunisia, Islamist-inspired party Ennahdha has moderated its image and selected lawyer Abdelfattah Mourou as its candidate for next Sunday's presidential election.

Tunis - Days before the first round of Tunisia's presidential election, the fledgling democracy on Saturday began three nights of televised debates between the candidates, a rare event in the Arab world.

Tunis - Days before the first round of Tunisia's presidential election, the fledgling democracy is holding three nights of televised debates between the candidates, a rare event in the Arab world.

Tunis - Arrested just weeks before Tunisia's September 15 presidential polls, candidate Nabil Karoui has hit the campaign trail by proxy, deploying his wife and party activists to shake the hands he cannot.

Tunis - Tunisian authorities arrested a controversial presidential candidate and founder of a major television channel for alleged money laundering, his party said Friday, hours after his channel was banned from covering campaigning.

Tunis - Tunisia's electoral commission has rejected nearly three quarters of hopefuls for next month's presidential election, accepting just two women as candidates, it said Wednesday.

Tunis - Tunisia's Prime Minister Youssef Chahed announced Thursday he would stand in presidential elections next month.

Tunis - Presidential hopefuls in Tunisia began registering their candidacies on Friday for snap September polls called after the death of 92-year-old leader Beji Caid Essebsi.

Tunis - Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed will stand in the country's upcoming presidential election, his party announced Wednesday, days after the death of incumbent Beji Caid Essebsi.

Tunis - Thousands of Tunisians on Saturday attended the funeral of president Beji Caid Essebsi as the North African nation gears up for snap elections as early as September to defend the democratic gains of the Arab Spring.

Tunis - Tunisia is gearing up for snap elections as early as September following the death of president Beji Caid Essebsi, amid uncertainty over who could step forward to run the North African country.

Tunis - Tunisia has less than two months to organise snap elections following the death of president Beji Caid Essebsi, amid uncertainty over who could step forward to run the North African country.

Tunis - Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, the country's first leader elected in nationwide polls, died at the age of 92 on Thursday, triggering political uncertainty ahead of planned elections.