Magharebia

A candidate running in Libya's upcoming constituent assembly elections was found murdered Sunday (May 13th) near the southern oasis town of Awbari, AFP reported.

"An armed gang travelling in five cars" followed Murzuq district candidate Khaled Abu Saleh after he completed his registration with the electoral commission, then "surrounded and killed him", High Security Commission official Mohammed Saleh said.

Also on Sunday, Libya's High National Election Commission extended the voter registration deadline until May 21st. Some 1.52 million people have already registered to vote in the June 19th constituent assembly elections.

In other Libyan election news, candidates running for the Benghazi local council presented their visions of how the city should be run. The appearances of political candidates on Libyan television last Friday marked a first for the country.

The Benghazi candidates, including several women, outlined their platforms for improving living standards, security, infrastructure, health and education.