UN's Ban hails 'historic milestone' in Tunisia

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed Tunisia's adoption of a new constitution on Sunday, declaring it a "historic milestone" and a model for other countries seeking reform, AFP reports. Tunisia's transition to democracy "reached another historic milestone with the adoption today of the country's new constitution," Ban said in a statement released by his spokesman Martin Nesirky. Ban "believes Tunisia's example can be a model to other peoples seeking reforms," Nesirky added. The UN chief "encourages political actors in Tunisia to ensure the next steps of the transition are conducted in a peaceful, inclusive and transparent manner," he added. Tunisia's lawmakers adopted a new constitution and the prime minister named a caretaker cabinet tasked with organising fresh polls -- two key goals of the revolution that touched off the Arab Spring three years ago. "Strengthening the democratic institutions created by the constitution and related laws will help promote accountability and the rule of law with full respect to human rights," Ban said. "Close attention must also be paid to ensuring economic growth is achieved in an equitable and sustainable manner."