Ex rebel chief Jibril early leader in Libya poll

Libya’s former rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril is the early frontrunner after partial results in the country’s election.

His National Forces Alliance is heading for landslide victories in a Tripoli suburb and several western towns, with three-quarters of votes counted.

Islamist parties are doing relatively badly compared to other Arab Spring countries, although Jibril says his multi-party alliance is neither secular nor liberal and advocates sharia law.

NATO allies who backed last year’s uprising are likely to welcome Jibril’s showing. The former wartime prime minister belongs to Libya’s largest tribe.

International observers say Libya’s first free national vote in decades went well on Saturday and drew a line under Muammar Gaddafi’s rule.

Election officials say final results are expected after five or six days.

Copyright © 2013 euronews