Opposition leader Rachid Ghannouchi has returned to Tunisia to a rapturous welcome after 22 years in exile.
Thousands of people were at the main airport in the capital Tunis to welcome the Islamist leader as he arrived from London.
Sheikh Ghannouchi was exiled in 1989 by President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who was toppled on 14 January by popular protests.
There were emotional scenes as hundreds of supporters held up olive branches, flowers and copies of the Koran, the ABC reports.
Sheikh Ghannouchi told reporters that he would not be seeking the presidency, but members of his Ennahda party would contest the parliamentary elections.
Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Amman and Mauritania, Morocco and Yemen have all seen anti-government protests following the lead of Tunisia in recent weeks and days.
The Islamists were Tunisia's strongest opposition force at the time Mr Ben Ali cracked down on them in 1989 but are thought not to have played a leading role in the popular revolt.
The interim government has announced that media curbs will be lifted, banned political parties allowed to register and political prisoners given amnesty.
