Tunisia readies for first poll after revolt

More than 40,000 police and soldiers will mobilise around Tunisia on Sunday for the first Arab Spring elections, officials said as tensions built ahead of the historic vote.

More than 40,000 police and soldiers will mobilise around Tunisia on Sunday for the first Arab Spring elections, officials said as tensions built ahead of the historic vote.

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Roadblocks have already been stepped up and patrols were guarding some 7,000 polling stations countrywide with three days to go to Tunisia's first democratic elections after decades of strongman rule.

The vote will be Tunisia's first free vote in two decades.

Syria clashesClashes raged on Thursday in Syria between troops and suspected army deserters as more civilians were reportedly killed in the crisis-hit country, a rights group said. Violence in Syria has intensified in recent weeks with at least five civilians killed in Thursday's violence.