20120730
Press TV
Libya’s General National Congress (GNC), elected in the North African country’s first post-Gaddafi democratic elections in July, is slated to take power in early August.

"August 8 is expected to be the date on which power is transferred from the National Transitional Council (NTC) to the General National Congress," AFP quoted Othman Ben Sassi, a member of the outgoing NTC as saying on Sunday.

According to Libyan officials, the details of the power transition from the country’s interim authorities to the 200-member assembly are yet to be decided on. However, the congress's first meeting is expected around August 9.


On July 7, Libyans went to the polls to choose a 200-seat legislature in their country’s first democratic elections for more than 50 years.

A total of 3,700 candidates, including 585 women, stood in the race to form a temporary assembly tasked with picking a cabinet and a prime minister.

The NTC, which has ruled Libya since the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi last year, must step down once the General National Congress holds its first session.

Libya became the scene of anti-Gaddafi protests in mid-February 2011. The revolution witnessed intense confrontation between government troops and opposition fighters.


Gaddafi was killed by Libyan revolutionaries in his hometown of Sirte, located 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, on October 20, eight months into the revolution that put an end to his 42-year-long dictatorship..