Polling stations have now closed in Tunisia’s historic presidential election.<br /><br />This is the first ever ballot to directly elect the country’s leader and is a major step on the road to full democracy.<br /><br />A revolution in 2011 ended the rule of President Ben Ali, and the country has since been held up as a model for a smooth transition to democratic rule.<br /><br />An 87-year-old former Ben Ali official, Beji Caid Essebsi, is reported to be the fronrunner, alongside the current president Moncef Marzouki. <br /><br />Nearly 30 presidential candidates are running after parliamentary elections last month. <br /><br />.
