Tunisia's Ben Ali wins landslide victory

TUNIS, Tunisia, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali won a landslide victory over three rivals in the presidential elections, officials said Monday.

Initial official results announced by the interior ministry said Bin Ali won a new five-year mandate by securing 94.49 percent of the ballots of the 4.6 million eligible Tunisian voters.

The U.S. State Department said the results did not do justice to Tunisia's record of progress in other areas.

"Our concern is that Tunisia meet the same standards for opportunities in political participation," deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said.

Ereli noted Tunisia is a key U.S. ally, but added: "Tunisia has fallen short of its own potential."

A State Department official, on condition of anonymity, called the election "deeply flawed."

Ben Ali's ruling Constitutional Democratic Assembly Party also won the majority of parliament votes in the general polls held simultaneously with presidential elections Sunday. Official figures indicate the ruling party won 152 seats in the 198-member unicameral chamber.

Turnout was estimated at 91.52 percent.