[h=3]By MARGARET COKER[/h]TRIPOLI—A coalition of liberal parties have made a strong showing against well-organized religious groups in Libya's first free election since Moammar Gadhafi seized power in 1969, according to unofficial results reported by party officials and election observers.
Official tallies aren't expected for several days, but authorities from rival groups including the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated party and the secular coalition headed by former rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril say they have noted high vote counts for Mr. Jibril's group, especially in Libya's major urban centers, where the vast majority of the nation's six million people live.
[h=3]Election Day[/h]Photos
Manu Brabo/Associated PressA woman voted in Tripoli.
The novelty of elections in Libya—no political parties or free polls were permitted during Gadhafi's 42-years in power—and the complex election rules made it difficult to identify clear front-runners ahead of Saturday's vote.
Unlike Egypt and Tunisia, where Islamic parties like the Muslim Brotherhood dominated those countries first post-Arab Spring elections, Libya's vote was expected to curb the influence of Islamic groups.
Libya's new 200-seat National General Congress has 120 seats reserved for independent candidates, the vast majority of whom have no prior political experience, and 80 seats for parties, which have only organized themselves over the last several weeks.
That allocation of seats means that a likely result of the poll is a strong party bloc that would need to form a larger governing coalition with the patchwork of independent politicians who are largely focused on local issues, rather than religious ones, in order to choose a new prime minister and conduct business.
Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesA Libyan man walks past campaign posters of Mahmoud Jibril in Tripoli on Sunday.
Libyans celebrated the chance to participate in their country's future for the first time in modern history.
"This is the day that we fix the past," said Maryem El-Barouni, a 23-year-old medical student, referring to the legacy of economic decay and dictatorship, who was among the first voters in the capital Saturday morning. "We've come through a very bad period. This is our chance to feel freedom."
On Saturday evening, people organized street parades and spontaneous late-night parties to commemorate the poll. On Sunday, a national holiday, families gathered at the beach and at home to swap pictures and anecdotes about the voting experience.
Official tallies aren't expected for several days, but authorities from rival groups including the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated party and the secular coalition headed by former rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril say they have noted high vote counts for Mr. Jibril's group, especially in Libya's major urban centers, where the vast majority of the nation's six million people live.
[h=3]Election Day[/h]Photos
Manu Brabo/Associated PressA woman voted in Tripoli.
The novelty of elections in Libya—no political parties or free polls were permitted during Gadhafi's 42-years in power—and the complex election rules made it difficult to identify clear front-runners ahead of Saturday's vote.
Unlike Egypt and Tunisia, where Islamic parties like the Muslim Brotherhood dominated those countries first post-Arab Spring elections, Libya's vote was expected to curb the influence of Islamic groups.
Libya's new 200-seat National General Congress has 120 seats reserved for independent candidates, the vast majority of whom have no prior political experience, and 80 seats for parties, which have only organized themselves over the last several weeks.
That allocation of seats means that a likely result of the poll is a strong party bloc that would need to form a larger governing coalition with the patchwork of independent politicians who are largely focused on local issues, rather than religious ones, in order to choose a new prime minister and conduct business.
Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesA Libyan man walks past campaign posters of Mahmoud Jibril in Tripoli on Sunday.
Libyans celebrated the chance to participate in their country's future for the first time in modern history.
"This is the day that we fix the past," said Maryem El-Barouni, a 23-year-old medical student, referring to the legacy of economic decay and dictatorship, who was among the first voters in the capital Saturday morning. "We've come through a very bad period. This is our chance to feel freedom."
On Saturday evening, people organized street parades and spontaneous late-night parties to commemorate the poll. On Sunday, a national holiday, families gathered at the beach and at home to swap pictures and anecdotes about the voting experience.