One Step Forward for Tunisia

In the approximately 40-square-meter room, tables, computers, printers, photocopiers and scanners competed for space. In between, there were large piles of maps, shoulder bags and dozens of identity card cases. The staff members of the accreditation section for observers and journalists at the Independent Election Commission (ISIE) in Tunis, capital of Tunisia, looked defeated at the piles of stuff scattered around

"We've had to take thousands of telephone calls," a staff member told Tempo. Two weeks ago, the Tunisian legislative election was less than 48 hours away. "We're overwhelmed," the staff member added.