TRIPOLI — Libya's interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah
registered his candidacy Sunday for next month's presidential election,
official media said, joining a list that includes a son of slain dictator
Muammar Gaddafi.
اضافة اعلان
Libya's first ever direct presidential poll, due on December
24, comes as the UN seeks to end a decade of violence in the oil-rich nation
since a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed Gaddafi in 2011.
Dbeibah signed documents at the HNEC electoral commission in
the capital Tripoli, in footage broadcast live by state television, the day
before the deadline for registration.
A wealthy businessman from the western port city of Misrata,
the 62-year-old political newcomer was designated as interim prime minister in
February in a UN-led process, to steer the country to legislative and
presidential elections.
Doubt had persisted about whether he would present his
candidacy but on Thursday he submitted an assets declaration — one of the
prerequisites for prospective presidential candidates.
Libya's Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh, eastern strongman
Khalifa Haftar, and Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya's late leader, have
also signed up to run for the presidency.
Gaddafi is wanted by the International Criminal Court for
alleged war crimes, while many in western Libya despise Haftar after his
year-long assault on Tripoli, accusing the military commander of seeking to
establish a military dictatorship.
Pro-Haftar forces remain in control of much of eastern and
southern Libya, and some analysts have voiced skepticism over the chances of a
free and fair election.
Nearly 3 million Libyans — out of a total population of some
seven million people — have so far registered to vote.
Both presidential and legislative polls had been slated for
December 24, but in early October parliament split the dates of the vote by
postponing legislative elections until January.
The path to the ballot box has been lined with disputes over
the constitutional basis for the polls and the powers to be given to whoever
wins.
In September, Saleh ratified a contentious electoral law
criticized for bypassing due process and favoring a bid by Haftar.
Saleh on Saturday rejected controversy around the move and
said the rules were not tailor-made to suit anyone.
Hundreds of Libyans protested in Tripoli on Friday against
war criminals running in next month's presidential election.
Demonstrators stamped on posters of Haftar and Saif
Al-Islam, voicing anger over the controversial electoral law.
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