Libyan cast ballots first time in 40 years

Over 2.7 million Libyans headed to the polls on Saturday, for the first time in the past four decades, to elect members of the National Assembly which will take over from the National Transitional Council in running post-Gaddafi Libya.

The elections were initially scheduled to be held on January 19, 2012 but were postponed due to organizational reasons.

The 200-member assembly will be mandated to draft the new Libya constitution and form the government.
A major bulk of 120 seats will be elected by direct ballot while the remaining 80 seats will be earmarked for party-based lists.
Libyan Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major-General Yusuf Al-Manqoush earlier announced the mobilization of 13000 soldiers to back the Interior Ministry in ensuring the security of the elections