Polls have opened in Tunisia’s first constitutionally backed parliamentary election since its 2011 uprising. They opened at 7am local time on 26 October and will see Tunisians cast ballots to vote in a 217-member assembly.

Though the country has avoided the cycles of revenge and disorder seen in Libya and Syria after their 2011 uprisings, it is still wrestling with significant social and economic problems.

Unemployment stands at 17 per cent and the past two years have been peppered by polticial attacks by Islamist militants.

A Tunisian policeman was killed in clashes between security forces and Islamist militants on the outskirts of Tunis on 23 October three days ahead of polls opening.

Tunisia has arrested about 1,500 suspected jihadists in 2014, according to a statement made earlier this year by Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa.