Tunis, Oct 27 (IANS/EFE): The Tunisian secular party Nidaa Tounis (the Call for Tunisia) is moving ahead in the legislative election, their political opponents, the Islamists of al-Nahda Movement, said Monday.

Sixteen hours after the polls closed Sunday, the only official result was that of participation, which stood at 61.8 percent in the country and at 29 percent abroad.

The Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) will Monday begin the process of announcing the official results of the votes cast Sunday for the 27 constituencies.

Election officials warned that the vote count could continue until Tuesday.

Amer Laridi, an al-Nahda party executive committee member, told Efe news agency that a preliminary analysis of the results from 60 percent of the polling stations showed that Nidaa Tounis was ahead of al-Nahda with a difference of at least 10 seats.

Laridi said that Nidaa Tounis won 69 or 70 seats, while al-Nahda took the second spot, with at least 60 seats.

"If this preliminary analysis is confirmed in the other polling stations, Nidaa Tounis could get at least 80 seats and al-Nahda around 69," he added.

Laridi also noted that the gap between the two major parties and the others will be "very broad", expecting the third party to win between 13 and 15 seats.

Tunisians cast their ballots for 217 members of parliament in the election, which officials said occurred without any major incidents.