Bin Ali re-elected for fifth time in landslide victory

Tunia: Tunisia's president has been re-elected in a landslide for a fifth, five-year term, the Interior Ministry announced on Monday.

President Zine Al Abidine Bin Ali won 89.62 per cent of Sunday's vote, the ministry said at a news conference. It was the lowest percentage of the vote Bin Ali has captured since taking power in a bloodless coup in 1987.

In 2004, he had more than 94 per cent of the vote — a drop from his previous victories, which fluctuated between 99.2 and 99.7 per cent.

The results from Sunday's presidential and legislative elections reflect the limited but somewhat increased visibility allowed to rivals in the race.

Runner-up Mohammad Bouchiha won 5.01 per cent of the vote and Ahmad Inoubli 3.80 per cent, but both were viewed as largely cosmetic opposition.

The third candidate, Ahmad Brahim of the Ettajdid, or the "change" movement, scored 1.57 per cent of the vote.

"At least, we've established the existence of a credible opposition movement in Tunisia," Brahim said. He declined to comment on his score.

Human rights groups and opposition members have criticised Bin Ali's regime for stifling liberties.

The turnout was 89.45 per cent of Tunisia's 5.3 million voters, authorities said. Hard-line opposition groups and Islamists are outlawed and did not take part in the election.

Tunisians also chose 214 lawmakers for the lower house of parliament.