Liberal coalition claim early lead in Libya vote

A coalition of Liberal parties has claimed an early lead in Libya’s election as vote counting continues.

The National Forces Alliance is a collective of more than 40 small parties and is headed by Mahmud Jibril, who served as interim Prime Minister after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

A spokesman for the group claimed the lead in the majority of constituencies, based on vote count observers. Similarly the leader of one of Libya’s main Islamist parties also acknowledged the coalition had the edge in the capital Tripoli and in Benghazi.

Preliminary results are not expected until Monday at the earliest.

Ordinary Libyans are hopeful about the outcome of the historic vote. “The priorities are security and justice for the Libyan people and rebuilding our country on solid ground,” said one resident of Tripoli.

Another said: “The Libyan people want to rebuild their country with a good constitution, one that expresses the aspirations of the people”.

Libya’s first, free national election in more than half a century achieved a 60 percent turnout.

While many Arab Spring countries have thrown their support behind Islamist movements, analysts say Libya could be about to buck the trend.

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