Libyan assembly postpones debate over constitution poll

By Jihad Nasr

TRIPOLI (AA) - Libya’s Tobruk-based parliament on Monday prematurely adjourned a session held to vote on whether or not to hold a popular referendum on a new constitution.

“Today’s session has been adjourned until tomorrow to allow more discussion of the proposed referendum,” Assembly Speaker Aqila Saleh said during the session, which was broadcast live on local television.

In a statement posted on the assembly’s website, assembly spokesman Abdullah Balikhak said “consensus” had been reached between most MPs on an amended version of a referendum bill -- with the exception of a handful of articles over which some disagreement remains.

Balikhak did not, however, specify the articles over which there was still some contention.

A UN-proposed roadmap for Libya, unveiled earlier this year, calls for presidential and parliamentary elections and a popular referendum on a new national charter.