LIBYA: Libyan men and women stream into polling stations in the cities of Sirte and Benghazi to cast their votes for the first time in the National Conference elections

Record ID: 702210

  • Title: LIBYA: Libyan men and women stream into polling stations in the cities of Sirte and Benghazi to cast their votes for the first time in the National Conference elections
  • Date: 7th July 2012
  • Summary: SIRTE, LIBYA (JULY 7, 2012) (REUTERS) ARMY SECURITY CHECKPOINT ARMY PERSONNEL MEMBER SITTING BEHIND MACHINE GUN VARIOUS OF ARMY MEMBERS CHECKING CARS VARIOUS OF POLICE CAR POLICEMAN STANDING ON STREET TWO SECURITY MEMBERS STANDING IN FRONT OF VOTING CENTRE WITH AN ARABIC SIGN IN BACKGROUND SAYING: "TALAEE AL-NASER SCHOOL" WOMEN STANDING IN LINE WAITING TO VOTE VOTING CARD ELECTION OFFICIAL CHECKING VOTER'S ID FEMALE VOTER RECEIVING VOTING PAPERS AND WALKING TO VOTE FEMALE VOTER DROPPING VOTING PAPERS IN THE BALLOT BOXES AND LEAVING ROOM ELECTION OFFICIALS CHECKING REGISTRATION PAPERS WOMAN CELEBRATING AS SHE ENTERS VOTING ROOM WOMAN DROPPING VOTING PAPERS IN BALLOT BOXES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MABROUKA, VOTER, SAYING: "(Making celebratory noise) This is the victory of my country." VARIOUS OF MALE VOTERS DROPPING VOTING PAPERS IN BALLOT BOXES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMAD ABD ALLAH, SAYING: "This day represents the complete freedom from injustice and the closed mentalities that Libya had. Thank God today, all Libyans are free." WOMAN CELEBRATING IN CORRIDOR AND SHOUTING "ALLAHU AKBAR" (God is greatest) BENGHAZI, LIBYA (JULY 7, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VOTERS OUTSIDE POLL STATION IN BENGHAZI VOTERS QUEUING AT POLLING ROOM MAN WALKS IN TO POLLING ROOM VARIOUS OF MALE VOTER REGISTERING NAME BALLOT BOXES ELECTION OFFICIAL DRESSED IN A WHITE VEST WITH ARABIC INSCRIPTIONS READS; "LIBYA IS ELECTING" VOTER DROPPING VOTE IN BALLOT BOX VOTERS DIPPING FINGER IN INK BOTTLE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN VOTER, TAREK AHMED, SAYING: "I feel that this is a cheerful day for all Libyans. Fifty thousand people have sacrificed their life and many others were injured for a day like this. Literally, it is a celebratory event all over Libya; this is the first time to stand in a line to elect the legal body that represents the Libyan forces and the Libyan factions. We are hoping that this new body could lead the country in the upcoming phase to transfer Libya from the revolution to a real state." WOMEN REGISTERING NAME ELECTION OFFICIAL REGISTERING ELECTORAL CARD NUMBER WOMAN CASTING HER VOTE VOTERS QUEUING OUTSIDE POLLING ROOM
  • Embargoed: 22nd July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6M30ITPFM6EHXBW50JM3YM3R2
  • Story Text: Voting centre doors opened in Libya on Saturday (July 7), as the General National Assembly's elections take place after 42 years of a local authorities system dominated by Muammar Gaddafi and his family.
    The atmosphere was calm as voting centres opened their doors in the morning to welcome early voters.
    Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, faced some of the most devastating fighting during the conflict last year after years of preferential treatment by Gaddafi. The neighbourhood known as "District 2" in Sirte, which suffered from large-scale destruction during the fighting last year, was the final hiding place for Gaddafi where he was captured.
    Mohammad Abd Allah, District 2 resident, said he was happy to see a new political reality in the country.

    "This day represents the complete freedom from injustice and the closed mentalities that Libya had. Thank God today, all Libyans are free."
    Voting in District 2 took place at the Talaee Al-Nasr school. Turnout was relatively small during the first few hours of opening.
    Sirte city, about 440 km from the capital Tripoli, has not seen a large security presence as expected. Instead, only a couple of police vehicles cruised the streets and one armed Army pick-up truck was parked at the Western gate of the city.
    Meanwhile in Benghazi, the cradle of the revolt that ousted Gaddafi, security was visibly tighter and tensions were more visible.
    Separatists and hardline Islamists have urged a boycott of the vote for different reasons but many residents of Libya's second largest city have participated despite the threats.
    Tarek Ahmed said it was vital people recognised the human cost that made their historic day possible.

    "I feel that this is a cheerful day for all Libyans. Fifty thousand people have sacrificed their life and many others were injured for a day like this. Literally, it is a celebratory event all over Libya; this is the first time to stand in a line to elect the legal body that represents the Libyan forces and the Libyan factions. We are hoping that this new body could lead the country in the upcoming phase to transfer Libya from the revolution to a real state," he said.
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