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Libyans To Participate In First Free Election In Over 40 Years

Danny Lee |
July 6, 2012 | 3:59 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Libyans will vote in the country's first free election since Muammar Gaddafi was forced from power. (Wikimedia Commons)
Libyans will vote in the country's first free election since Muammar Gaddafi was forced from power. (Wikimedia Commons)
Libyans are preparing to vote on Saturday in the country's first free elections in more than four decades, despite concerns over violence by protesters threatening to boycott or sabotage the vote.

On Friday, a helicopter carrying election material from the eastern city of Benghazi was struck by anti-aircraft fire, killing an electoral worker who was onboard, Al Jazeera reported.

“He died there with many member of logistics team present. The team is back to work now. Everything is ready for tomorrow. Nothing can stop us,” Loui El Magari of Libya's High National Election Committee said.

Eastern Libya has been the setting for turmoil as some groups are angry that the west has been granted more seats in the new 200-member General National Congress, according to the BBC. The GNC will replace the unelected interim government that was installed to rule the country since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted from power.

About 2.8 million registered voters will get to decide among more than 2,000 candidates up for election to the legislative body. The Libyan Air Force will assist in collecting the ballots for counting when polls close Saturday evening.

 

Read the full story at Al Jazeera or the BBC. For more of Neon Tommy's coverage on Libya, click here.

Reach Executive Producer Danny Lee here; follow him here.



 

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