Liberal party ahead in Libya elections

We are all waiting and we have nothing to suggest that one party is ahead of others, election commission chief Nouri al-Abar told reporters. He also refused to set a date for announcing the full official results.

Libyans turned out en masse Saturday to cast their ballots for the 200-seat parliament. Eighty seats are set aside for party lists,while the remaining 120 are for individual independent candidates.

Officials from two other parties,the Muslim Brotherhood8217;s Justice and Construction Party and the Islamist Al-Watan,said Jibrils alliance was the biggest winner in the race for the 80 party seats. They based their statements on their own party representatives at polling centers. They did not provide a breakdown.

With the majority of parliaments seats dedicated to individual candidates,even if Jibrils Alliance of National Forces were to claim the largest share of the party seats it is not guaranteed of being the dominant force.

Jibril was a senior official and economist under Gaddafis regime until he changed sides and joined the rebels after the uprising broke out,serving as the rebels interim prime minister for almost eight months. Jibril himself could not run on the ballot because election laws prevent members of the interim National Transitional Council from running,but he serves as the leader of the coalition that brings together some 40 liberal parties.