Tunisia's top Islamist returns to Tunis

Ghannouchi the leader of Tunisia's main Islamist movement has returned home after 22 years in exile following the ousting of President Ben Ali earlier this month.

Thousands of people went to Tunis airport to welcome Rachid Ghannouchi, 69, as he arrived in Tunis from London.

He said he would not run in the next presidential poll but his party would contest a parliamentary election.

Ghannouchi fled Tunisia after a crackdown President Ben Ali against his banned Ennahda movement.

He returned after the interim government's announced that media curbs would be lifted, banned political parties allowed to register and political prisoners given amnesty.