Libyan elections postponed to July 7

Libya's first national legislative elections since the overthrow of Moamer Gaddafi last year have been postponed by 18 days, to July 7, dpa reported.

Speaking at a press conference in the capital Tripoli, Nuri al-Abbar, the chief of Libya's election commission, said it had been forced to postpone the elections due to major logistical difficulties in following the original timetable.

The elections, in which voters are due to elect a 200-member assembly to replace the ruling National Transitional Council and draw up a new constitution for the North African state, had been due to take place on June 19.

Al-Abbar pointed out that the initial law providing for the elections had only been enacted on January 18. Since then, it had been necessary to register both voters and candidates, as well as to allow time for campaigning.

"This was a very short time, especially in a country that has had no elections for half a century," Al-Abbar said, referring to the lengthy rule of deposed leader Moamer Gaddafi, who was executed after a rebellion last year.

"The great level of participation in the voter registration process was a surprise for everyone," he added, pointing out that over 2.7 million voters had registered.

On Tuesday, al-Abbar had insisted that the elections would go ahead on schedule, after a brief militia takeover of Tripoli airport provided a reminder that the authorities are facing security as well as logistical challenges.

Several areas in the country have seen clashes in recent months, as rebels - who fought and deposed the Gaddafi regime last year - have kept their weapons and often retained de facto local control.

In south-eastern Libya, at least 17 people were killed in two days of clashes between former militiamen and tribal fighters in the town of Kufra.