Ben Ali wins landslide in Tunisian election

Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali won plaudits from his peers yesterday after being re-elected with 89.6 per cent of the vote for a fifth term after two decades in power.

The results from all of the north African country's 26 constituencies, released by the Interior Ministry, showed Mr Ben Ali's score ranging from 84.1 to 93.8 per cent of the vote. He did even better among overseas voters who gave him a huge 94.85 per cent.

Though the margin of victory is remarkable, the crushing nature of the triumph is commonplace for Mr Ben Ali. It is the first time since he took power in 1987 that his share of the overall vote has fallen below 90 per cent.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy telephoned Mr Ben Ali to congratulate him on his victory, Tunisian state news agency TAP reported.

"The French President expressed his satisfaction at the excellent relations between France and Tunisia and his country's willingness to raise the two countries' partnership to a new level," the agency said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said Tunisia could rely on French support as it undertakes social, economic and political reform. Congratulations for Mr Ben Ali also came in from other north African leaders including Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King Moham-med VI of Morocco, TAP said.