Libya’s Presidency Council says ‘important’ to hold timely elections

TRIPOLI, Libya

Libya's Presidency Council on Tuesday underlined the importance of holding the country’s general elections on Dec. 24 as scheduled.

Speaking following a meeting with UN Special Representative to Libya Stephanie Williams, the council’s vice-president, Musa al-Koni, said the Libyan people are waiting for the moment to elect the country’s president.

"It is a historic moment for Libya to elect a president, who can lead the country in dealing with the world," al-Koni wrote on Twitter.

He said despite the difficulty facing the polls, it is still "worth abiding by, a move which will make a difference.”

Libya's presidential and parliamentary elections are set to take place on December 24. Calls, however, have grown to postpone the vote amid political differences and absence of constitutional or legal grounds.

Libyans hope that the upcoming elections will contribute to ending an armed conflict that has plagued the oil-rich country for years.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara