Libya’s election commission has called fort eh country’s first presidential poll, due to take place on Friday, to be postponed for a month.
The commission said it proposed the new date of January 24 after “liaising” with parliament.
A parliamentary committee had earlier said that it would be “impossible” to hold elections on Friday. This follows the run-up to the poll being marred by disputes over the eligibility of candidates and growing security fears.
The country has been in turmoil since long-serving ruler Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011.
The UN and Western powers had hoped that the election would bolster efforts to achieve peace and democracy in Libya – a strategically important country that is a major oil producer and a transit point for migrants to Europe.
US ambassador to Libya Richard Norland said the US shared the disappointment of Libyans who wanted to vote.
Norland said Libyan leaders should “expeditiously address all legal and political obstacles to hold elections, including finalising the list of presidential candidates”.
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