Tunis — On the brilliant victory of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, several Regional Councils of Governorates held special sessions. They include, in particular, regional councils of the governorates of Tozeur, Tataouine, Sfax, Bizerte, El Kef, Kébili, Jendouba, Gafsa, Nabeul, Kairouan, Gabès, Sousse, Gafsa, Monastir and Mahdia.

Regional and local executives and representatives of civil society took part in these special sessions which were chaired by the regions' governors.

The meetings provided the opportunity to the local citizens, who voted overwhelmingly for the Head of State, to express their joy and pride at the renewal of confidence in President Ben Ali to carry on leading the process of development in Tunisia.

Citizens of these regions also expressed gratitude to the Head of State for the economic and social programmes and projects carried out over the past years and which have enhanced the position of regions as active poles of development and improved the living conditions of their populations.

Members of the regional councils reiterated their loyalty to Tunisia and their commitment to work to defend its integrity, enhance its prestige, contribute actively to enriching the gains and successes of the country and to take up the challenges of the next stage, in materialisation of the ambitious targets set by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in his new electoral programme.

Members of the regional councils also commended the high level of political maturity, awareness and commitment demonstrated by Tunisians in practising democracy, praising the climate of transparency, credibility and respect of law that marked the elections and the electoral campaign. They expressed their rejection of any form of meddling with national affairs, denouncing attempts to cast doubt on the country's gains and its appropriate democratic process.