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Voting gets underway in Tunisian presidential election

A woman casts her vote at a polling station during Tunisia's presidential election in Sousse November 23, 2014. Tunisians went to the polls on Sunday to vote for their first directly elected president since the 2011 revolution that ended the regime of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. REUTERS/Anis Mili

By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisians went to the polls on Sunday to vote for their first directly elected president since the 2011 revolution that ended the regime of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. Nearly 30 candidates are running but a race is emerging between a veteran former Ben Ali official and a rights activist who says the election is a chance to stop the return of old-regime stalwarts. More than three years after the end of Ben Ali's one-party rule, Tunisia has become a model of transition for the region by adopting a new constitution and avoiding the turmoil facing its neighbours. Sunday's vote follows the general election in October when the main secular Nidaa Tounes party won the most seats in the parliament, beating the Islamist party Ennahda that had won the first free poll in 2011. Compromise between secular and Islamist rivals has been a feature of Tunisia's political success but the ascent of former regime officials is worrying critics who say they fear their return will be a setback for the 2011 revolution. Nidaa Tounes leader, Beji Caid Essebsi, an 87-year-old former Ben Ali official, is emerging as a frontrunner alongside the current president Moncef Marzouki, who is warning against the rise of one-party era figures like Essebsi. "The old regime wants to impose itself on these elections especially after they won the most seats in the parliament," said bank employee Mohammed Souilmi. "I will be voting to put a stop to that." Essebsi and other former Ben Ali era officials say they were not involved in the corruption and abuse of the former regime, presenting themselves instead as technocrats with the skills which the country now needs in government. "Tunisians just want a president who can help restore security and the economic situation, and return the prestige we have lost," said hairdresser Sonia Ben Omar. Most analysts predict neither Essebsi nor Marzouki will win enough votes to avoid a second round of voting in December. A new Nidaa Tounes-led government will be formed after the presidential ballot. But the narrow lead it holds over Ennahda in parliament will mean tough post-election negotiations over the new administration. Ennahda has not put forward a candidate or backed anyone, so its supporters' choice will only emerge in the vote. The new government faces a difficult agenda of politically sensitive economic reforms to boost growth and create jobs as well as tackling the Islamist militant threat that emerged after the 2011 revolt.