Tunisia: Presidential candidates urge citizens to vote

TUNIS, Tunisia (AA) - Three presidential candidates in Tunisia have urged people to come out and vote in order to decide the future of their nation.

Incumbent Prime Minister Youssef Chahed who is running for president called on people to decide their fate through the ballot.

"We are proud of this election which is being observed by the whole world," Chahed said, after casting his vote on Sunday in La Marsa city, near the Tunisian capital Tunis.

Female presidential candidate Salma Loumi from the Hope Party predicted a second round of elections.

Speaking to reporters after casting her vote in the northeastern city of Nabeul, she said it is early to say who will win.

Abdelfattah Mourou, presidential candidate of the Ennahdha party, said all power is in the hands of the people.

"I am happy to fulfill this duty, it is a constitutional and legal duty [...] I was forbidden from it in the past," he said, after casting his vote in La Marsa.

Observers expect that the elections will go to a runoff vote if no candidate achieves an absolute majority. The second round is scheduled to take place in early November, following a parliamentary vote in October.

The elections are being observed by more than 4,500 local observers representing political parties, non-governmental organizations and the election commission, in addition to 300 foreign observers.

Polls, which opened in Tunisia on Sunday morning, are being held following the death of President Beji Caid Essebsi earlier this year.

More than 7 million people are expected to vote in the election.

* Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara