Tunisians

In fact, more than half of all Tunisians have no idea about any of the parties vying for a place in the assembly.

So Tunisians in this secular society are listening very carefully to what al-Nahda's leaders say -- and what they do not say.

His was an act of desperation that, true to Tunisians' moderate self-image, harmed no one else.

Anyone who traveled throughout the region could see that Tunisians enjoy a relatively high standard of living and quality of life.

The majority of Africans seeking work or refuge in Europe are Tunisians, but a growing number are sub-Saharan Africans fleeing Libya.

Such views also reflect growing weariness with what has been a long season of protests and strikes. A lot of Tunisians are eager to move on.

They must resist that pressure -- both to maintain their independence and convince Egyptians and Tunisians of it.

Yet these were not necessarily the features of the regime against which tens of thousands of Tunisians demonstrated last week.

But many Tunisians remain skeptical of the gentle and moderate face the party has put forth throughout the campaign.

During the protests in January and February Tunisians attacked the symbols of oppression, especially police stations.

Tunisians must reject the economic agreements and neo-liberal policies that have degraded their society.

On a more fundamental level, Tunisians are protesting dictatorship.

Still, most Tunisians seem delighted with the outcome, so far.

But many of the three-quarters or so of Tunisians who do not consider themselves Islamist mistrust Nahda, many of them deeply.

POLES driving across the Oder into Germany seem less scary than Tunisians coming to Italy by sea.

France has stepped up patrols near the border with Italy and last month sent back nearly 3, 000 Tunisians across the frontier.

Libyans just joined Tunisians, Egyptians and Yemenis in ousting their dictator, while Syrians and Iranians hope to soon follow suit.

Still, those who experienced the repression were a minority of the 10 million Tunisians.

Tunisians weathered this, including several changes of governments, with tenacity and aplomb.

Here, Tunisians celebrate the Islamist Ennahda party's victory last month, the first vote that resulted from the "Arab Spring" revolts.

In agriculture, in oil and in tourism, the strain was taken by migrant Egyptians, Turks, Tunisians, Africans and others.

Tunisians, in their first free elections, voted Sunday for an assembly to write a new constitution.

Many Tunisians feel the event will help bring closure to a bitter past.

Ordinary Tunisians kept their heads down and attended to their work.

Most are Tunisians fleeing the economic problems that helped trigger the upheaval.

For some Tunisians, still giddy over the lightning pace of change, there is little room for pragmatism.

Mr. Ghannouchi had faced opposition from Tunisians whose protests in January had forced out autocratic President Ben Ali.

In a sense, Tunisians have been here before.

Of course, Tunisians didn't need anyone to tell them this.

A group of young Tunisians have helped to organize the protests that deposed a dictator with their activism online.

In return Italy offered the Tunisians coastal-patrol equipment and euro150m ($220m) in unspecified support.

Tunisians and, later, Egyptians took to the streets.

But most Tunisians have apparently yet to make up their minds.

This is in my opinion, very typical of Tunisians, who always come up with ways to work around many limitations in our society.

Italy has recently granted temporary permits for some 20, 000 Tunisians who fled to the island of Lampedusa.

How do the Tunisians consider the influences of the first selection on Tunis?

Tunisia's revolution ousted President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali in January. Many Tunisians say they are hopeful for the future.

Now Tunisians were high on the freedom not only to express themselves, but to imagine the future shape their country might take.

Many Tunisians say they are hopeful for the future.

One idea is a special allotment of fellowships to bring larger numbers of Tunisians to study in Group of Eight countries.