Tripoli protest against assembly mandate extension

Dozens of demonstrators gathered in central Tripoli on Friday to protest against Libya's General National Congress extending its mandate until the end of 2014. An Agence France Presse correspondent said the protesters gathered in Martyrs Square to chant slogans against Monday's move. In July 2012 Libyans chose the GNC in their first free election after rebels overthrew and killed Moammar Gadhafi, ending his 40-year dictatorship. The body was given 18 months to steer the country through the political transition towards general elections, to be held after a constitution was adopted. Under that timetable, the mandate of the GNC, Libya's highest political authority, was due to expire in February. But on Monday GNC spokesman Omar Hmeidan said the assembly had accepted the "principle... to fix the end of the mandate for December 24, 2014 to hand over power to another legislative body." On Friday the demonstrators chanted "No to an extension!" and "If you extend we will bring another revolution!" The political class opposes any extension, deeming it necessary to push ahead with the transition in order to build sustainable institutions to counter the chronic security problems plaguing the country.