A former official of the ousted Tunisian leader Ben Ali looks set to go into a close run-off ballot in the country’s historic presidential elections.

87-year-old Beji Caid Essebsi, the parliamentary chief under Ben Ali, is claiming a significant lead after polling on Sunday.

He is likely to go into the second round with the incumbent president, Moncef Marzouki, who has warned of going back to what he calls the “one-party figures” of the past.

Essebsi maintains the country will benefit from his experience, casting himself as a technocrat who gets results.

The run-off is expected to be held next month.