Libyan Supreme Council of State elects new leader

By Muetaz Wannes and Mahmut Geldi

TRIPOLI (AA) - The Libyan Supreme Council of State elected a new leader on Sunday, with Mohamed Takala replacing Khaled el-Meshri.

Voting was broadcast live by Libyan media.

In the first round, in which 129 out of the 145 members of the Supreme Council of State took part, el-Meshri received 49 votes and Takala 39.

As neither of the candidates received the votes of 66 members, a second round of voting was held.

In the second round, Takala, who received 67 votes, won against el-Meshri, who received 62 votes.

El-Meshri, who was elected president of the Supreme Council of State in April 2018, will hand over his tasks to Takala.

Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibeh, Libya's prime minister under the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, congratulated Takala in a statement on his social media account.

Dbeibeh also urged the Supreme Council of State to take part in the realization of elections which will end the transition process in Libya.