John Kerry visits Tunisia

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Tunisia to offer continued American assistance to the North African nation where uprisings that toppled authoritarian leaders around the Arab world first ignited in 2011.

In meetings Tuesday with Tunisian authorities, U.S. officials said Kerry would urge a cementing of democratic reforms enshrined in a new constitution that was formally adopted earlier this month after the formation of an interim government in January. Kerry will laud Tunisia’s progress and offer technical assistance for organizing presidential and parliamentary elections that are due to be held by the end of the year, the officials said.

The U.S. is keen to encourage the democratic transition in Tunisia, which ousted its longtime dictator in January 2011, sparking revolts around the Middle East and North Africa that toppled leaders in Egypt, Libya and Yemen.

One official with Kerry said the U.S. hoped Tunisia could serve as a model for other transitioning countries in the region.