Tunisians start casting votes in 2nd presidential elections

TUNIS, Sept 15 (MENA) - Tunisians started on Sunday heading for polling stations to choose a new president in the second presidential elections to be held in the country since 2011 revolution.

Polls opened at 8:00 am (0700 GMT), although overseas voting stations for Tunisia's sizable expatriate population have been open since Friday.

Twenty-six candidates, including two women, are running in the election. The key players in the elections include Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, former government chief Mahdi Gomaa, Abdelfattah Mourou, who heads a first-time bid on behalf of his Islamist inspired Ennahdha party and Abdelkarim Zbidi, the former defense minister.

Key players include media mogul Nabil Karoui -- behind bars due to an ongoing money laundering probe -- Abdelfattah Mourou, who heads a first-time bid on behalf of his Islamist inspired Ennahdha party, and Prime Minister Youssef Chahed.

Tunisian Interior Ministry announced that some 70,000 security elements will be deployed nationwide, including 50,000 focused solely on polling stations.