Henrik Tessmer and Rida Agheel Saudi GazetteTRIPOLI — In a sign that holds great promise for democracy in Libya, long lines of enthusiastic men and women of all ages were seen queuing up in front of the poll centers across the country since early Saturday. And amazing as it was, tenacious crowds turned out in large numbers. Comparing it to Egypt's own parliament elections, an Egyptian reporter said: “This is incredible." In the capital Tripoli, a loud cry of “Allahu Akbar" (“God is Great") went up when voting began at one polling station, a converted school building abuzz with the chatter of queuing locals. “I am a Libyan citizen in free Libya," said Mahmud Mohammed Al-Bizamti. “I came today to be able to vote in a democratic way. Today is like a wedding for us." Security was light in the coastal capital, where cars raced through the streets, horns honking and passengers waving the red, green and black Libyan national flag out of the window. Neyamat, a 51-year-old woman went to the polls with her 70-year-old uncle Yasin Mabrouk and 83-year-old mother. “My uncle is sick today," she says. “But he decided to go anyway." A few meters away, a 83-year-old man in wheelchair, was in tears and unable to respond to the questions asked by a Tunisian journalist. In the Tripoli suburb of Suq Al-Juma, some 2,500 men and women had voted between 8 A.M. and 12.30 P.M. with women accounting for 35 percent of the voters. A straw poll conducted at the station, most voters said they had voted for Mahmoud Jibril's alliance. Straw polls in Benghazi and Rigdaleen showed a similar outcome. In Benghazi and elsewhere in the east of the country, people flocked to the polling stations despite attempt by federalists to sabotage the voting even though they had an effect at some places. Reflecting the large support in the Mediterranean city for the country's first free ballot in decades, voters flocked to the main road along the seafront by early evening, waving Libyan flags and chanting pro-election slogans. “Sorry, sorry federalists, you have lost!" they shouted, on the road where hundreds had gathered after casting their vote for a national assembly. “Hold your fingers high, you are free Libyans!" they chanted, waving their ink-stained fingers. Earlier in the day, gunfire rang out after around 200 demonstrators filled a nearby square in Libya's second city, the cradle of last year's revolt that ousted Muammar Gaddafi. They were encircled by cars belonging to supporters of the election and later by at least a dozen military vehicles whose forces fired into the air in a show of strength. But after the armed forces left, protesters attacked the civilian cars, damaging several. “We are the ones who started the rebellion and now nobody is bothered about us. Nobody wants to talk to us. All we are asking for is a proper democratic process," said one demonstrator, calling himself Fuad Al-Obeidi. Abduljawad Shadwan, a 49-year-old lecturer who supports the election, condemned the protesters. “I can understand their views but this is not the right way. We are building a new Libya and actions like these only deny the building of a new country," said Shadwan. “But this will not stop the progress of Libya. The result of the election will be unprecedented. It will be historic." Earlier, voting was also marred by attacks by protesters calling for greater representation at one polling center in the city and some other parts of eastern Libya. They forced the closure of several polling stations outside Benghazi, but failed to dampen the enthusiasm of most of the city's residents. “I am voting today for a new Libya which we will create from the blood shed by our martyrs," said Abdel Jalil Mansur, who works at Benghazi airport. “The blood of our martyrs will not go to waste," he said at Al-Hurriyah polling station in central Benghazi, carrying his five-year-old daughter Arwa, draped in the new Libyan flag. Hueida Abdul Sheikh, a 47-year-old mother, hoped her vote would help build a better future. — With input from agencies
