Ban Ki Moon welcomes forthcoming Libya elections

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed Libya's first ever free elections due this Saturday, describing it a mile-stone in the North African nation's "road to democracy." Addressing the people of Libya in a video message, the UN chief said: "On Saturday, you will exercise a right that you have been denied for more than four decades, the right to vote, the right to elect a new National Congress - this is a milestone in Libya's long march toward democracy." Reiterating the UN's continued support to Libya in its transition to democracy, Ban said the world body "is proud to have assisted in the birth of an independent Libya. We will stand by you as you build a fully free and democratic state." Libya is currently in the midst of preparations for its first-ever free polls on July 7 to elect a 200-member Constitutional Assembly, which will oversee the drafting of a new constitution and form a government. Some 2.7 million people in the North African nation have registered to vote for members of the new National Congress. More than 3,000 candidates are competing for office, including over 600 women. The polls originally scheduled to be held late June will be the first free elections for decades in Libya. The country was ruled for over forty years by the autocratic regime of Col. Moammar Qadhafi before being ousted by a NATO-backed armed rebellion last year "This is, truly, a moment for national celebration. We all know the road to democracy is long and hard. We share your aspiration for a peaceful and prosperous Libya founded on the principles of justice, human rights, inclusiveness and accountability," Ban said.