Libya election: High turnout in historic vote http://bbc.in/N24Ret
2:41 PM - 7 Jul 12 via Tweet Button · Details
Libya election: High turnout in historic vote
Libyans have been voting in their first free national election for 60 years.
They are selecting a temporary assembly which will have the task of picking a cabinet and a prime minister.
But voting was disrupted by unrest in some areas, particularly the east. Officials say 101 of more than 1,500 polling stations were unable to open.
Nevertheless, overall turnout has been described as high, with voters choosing their first government since Col Gaddafi came to power in 1969.
UN Libya envoy Ian Martin said the disruption in the east was unlikely to undermine the credibility of the election.
Many people in eastern Libya are concerned that the oil-rich area will be under-represented in the assembly and marginalised as it was during Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year rule.
The region has been allotted only 60 seats in the 200-seat assembly, while the west will have 100 seats and the south 40, under the system devised by the outgoing National Transitional Council (NTC).
