#libya election

Elections Represent An Opportunity For Stability And Unity In Libya – UNSMIL

With just over 100 days until landmark elections in Libya, political leaders must join forces to ensure the vote is free, fair and inclusive, the UN envoy for the country told the Security Council on Friday. Ján Kubiš, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) briefed ambassadors on developments ahead of presidential and parliamentary…

World

Deadly attacks and low turnout mar Libya's parliamentary elections

Deadly attacks and a low turnout has marred Libya's general election on which hopes were pinned of ending three years of turmoil since the ousting of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Gunmen shot dead Benghazi lawyer Salwa Bugaighis, a prominent human rights activist who helped organise the first protests against Gaddafi. And at least three soldiers deployed to provide polling day security in second city Benghazi were killed in an attack on their convoy by Islamist militia. Turnout was much lower than in July 2012, the first free national vote in more than 40 years.

These are the last chance elections. We are placing much hope in the future parliament to restore the security and stability of our country.

Amr Baiou, a Libyan voter

The electoral commission was also forced to close 18 polling stations in the western town of Al-Jemil after unidentified gunmen attacked five of them and stole ballot boxes. No voting was held in the eastern town of Derna, a stronghold of jihadists, for fear of attacks on polling stations. In the south, just five out 15 polling stations opened in the Kufra region for "security reasons". The first results are expected on Friday or Saturday. The UN Security Council has expressed hopes that the vote can be a stepping stone out of the chaos.

We are voting so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past. We voted in the first elections just to vote. This time I have really researched the candidates, and I voted for the right people.

Africa

Deadly attack, low turnout mar Libya's parliamentary elections

A deadly attack on troops and low turnout Wednesday marred Libya's general election on which hopes were pinned of ending three years of turmoil since dictator Muammar Gaddafi's ouster. At least three soldiers deployed to provide polling day security in second city Benghazi were killed in an attack on their convoy by Islamist militia. Half an hour before polls closed at 1800 GMT, just 400,000 of the 1.5 million registered voters had cast their ballots, a turnout of less than 27 per cent. The number of registered voters itself was a far cry from the more than 2.7 million who signed up two years ago for Libya's first ever free election.

These are the last-chance elections. We are placing much hope in the future parliament to restore the security and stability of our country.

Amr Baiou, a Libyan voter

The electoral commission was also forced to close 18 polling stations in the western town of Al-Jemil after unidentified gunmen attacked five of them and stole ballot boxes. No voting was held in the eastern town of Derna, a stronghold of jihadists, for fear of attacks on polling stations. In the south, just five out 15 polling stations opened in the Kufra region for "security reasons." The first results are expected on Friday or Saturday. The U.N. Security Council has expressed hopes that the vote can be a stepping stone out of the chaos.

We are voting so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past. We voted in the first elections just to vote. This time, I have really researched the candidates, and I voted for the right people.

Published on Jul 15, 2012 by PressTVGlobalNews

The National Forces Alliance, a secular party led by former premier Mahmoud Jibril, has garnered vote majority according to early results announced by the High National Election Commission and might consequently dominate a considerable bloc of seats in the incoming parliament. Yet it is labeled as another version of Gaddafi's government.