Head of Libya’s constitution-drafting assembly resigns

Resignation came before parliament was set to vote on law for holding constitutional referendum

Head of Libya’s constitution-drafting assembly resigns

The head of Libya’s constitution-drafting assembly, Noah Abdel-Sayed, announced his resignation on Sunday.  

“I don’t want to continue in my post,” Abdel-Sayed told the local Al-Ahrar television.  

He did not give details whether the resignation had been accepted.  

His resignation came one day before the Tripoli-based parliament was set to meet to vote on a law for holding a referendum on a proposed constitution.  

Last year, the assembly approved a final draft of the proposed charter and has called on the Tripoli-based parliament to approve a law for holding the constitutional referendum ahead of elections.  

In May, Libya’s warring rivals agreed to finalize and adopt a constitution by Sept. 16 and hold presidential and parliamentary elections on Dec. 18.  

Libya has been dogged by turmoil since 2011, when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the death of strongman Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades in power.

Since then, Libya’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power -- one in Tobruk and another in Tripoli -- and a host of heavily-armed militia groups.