Voting begins in Tunisia's first constitutional referendum

Tunisia's polling stations opened today at 6am (5am GMT) to vote in its first constitutional referendum called by its president, Kais Said.

Tunisians have to decide between a "yes" and a "no" ballot in the vote on a draft constitution that, if approved, will replace the current 2014 Magna Carta, drawn up by a constituent assembly.

More than 9.2 million Tunisians (348,876 abroad) are expected to vote in more than 11,000 centres set up by 22:00 (21:00 GMT) on a public holiday in the country.

The controversial constitutional draft has drawn criticism from legal experts for introducing an "ultra-presidentialist" system with no guarantees for the separation of powers, and for the drafting process, which was drawn up behind closed doors in less than a month.

Around 84,000 agents are supervising the country's polling stations and thousands of national and international observers are monitoring the legality of the process.

Tunisia is also voting under a state of emergency, with a dissolved parliament and a year after Said took full power.

Turnout figures will be decisive for the legitimacy of the process, according to experts.

The population has been indifferent to this vote, which is being held after a lacklustre electoral campaign and with the majority of the political opposition calling for a boycott of the referendum.