Obama hails parliamentary election in Tunisia

U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday applauded the election for a new parliament in Tunisia, calling it "an important milestone" in the North African country's political transition.

"On behalf of all Americans, I congratulate the people of Tunisia on the democratic election of a new parliament -- an important milestone in Tunisia's historic political transition," the president said in a statement.

The election is one of the final steps in Tunisia's political transition, which followed the removal of the country's former leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. Some 5.2 million registered voters are choosing a 217-seat parliament and the largest party will form the next government.

"In casting their ballots today, Tunisians continued to inspire people across their region and around the world, as they did during Tunisia's 2011 revolution and with the adoption of a new constitution earlier this year," Obama said.

He reaffirmed U.S. support for the transition in Tunisia. Enditem