Cairo: Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi on Monday congratulated Tunisia's former prime minister Beji Qaid Al Sebsi on his victory in the country's first democratic presidential elections, Egypt's state Middle East News Agency.
"This win reflects the precious confidence, which the Tunisian people have in you," the agency quoted Al Sissi as saying in a congratulatory cable to the veteran Tunisian politician.
Al Sissi, believed to be the architect of last year's military overthrow of Islamist president Mohammad Mursi, has repeatedly denounced Islamist groups, including Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood.
Al Sesbsi's secular-leaning Nida Tunis took the lead in Tunisia's legislative elections held in October, while the Islamist Ennahda movement came second.
Ennahda did not field a candidate for Tunisia's presidential polls and pledged neutrality.
In his cable to Al Sebsi, Al Sissi pledged Egypt's backing to Tunisia and interest in promoting what he called "ties of cooperation and fraternity" between the two countries.
"The president prays that Allah will render efforts of Egypt, Tunisia and all parts of the Arab world successful in spreading genuine, moderate and tolerant values of Islam," the agency said.
Al Sissi also congratulated Al Sebsi by phone from China where the Egyptian leader is on an official visit, according to state television.
