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AP - President Barack Obama pledged U.S. support for Tunisia’s political and economic development, as he welcomed the North African nation’s prime minister to the White House for a meeting steeped in symbolism.

Tunisia sparked the wider democracy movement now known as the Arab Spring when citizens took to the streets in January to protest their authoritarian government.

Tunisia was the first Arab Spring country to successfully overthrow its longtime leader, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and will also be the first to hold free elections to emerge from the movement, with voters set to cast ballots on Oct. 23.