News from Libya - The chairman of the Libyan National Transition Council (NTC), Mr Mustapha Abdeljelil, has called on his compatriots to make their input into the guidelines for the country's forthcomingConstituent Assembly election. The NTC leader made the call in a televised speech to mark the New Year on Monday night. The draft electoral code was developed by a commission comprising lawyers and experts and focuses on free and direct elections of the 200 members of the general congress.

A quota of 10 per cent of the seats was reserved for women, while the code excludes all those who have held public posts or enriched themselves under Col. Muammar Kadhafi’s regime.

The NTC President called for the broad participation of Libyans in the development of the electoral code by discussing all aspects and making their suggestions

He called on Libyans to be patient and to understand the full scope of the crucial and sensitive phase which the country is passing through.

Meanwhile, based on data from the Central Bank of Libya, the NTC President said the liquidity crisis in the country had improved, with cash reserves increasing from 200 to 550 million Libyan  dinars.

He announced the arrival of new bank notes printed in France and Britain to the tune of 300 million dinars and said other shipments will arrive soon.

Pana 03/01/2012