Libyan-Canadians vote for new post-Gadhafi government

Libyan-Canadians have begun doing something that one year ago they would never have thought possible — voting to elect a new government in Libya.

The first of five days’ of voting began Tuesday at polling stations set up at an arena in west end Ottawa.

It will serve the estimated 3,000 to 3,500 Libyan Canadians living across the country who are eligible to vote.

The voting comes less than a year after the ouster of dictator Moammar Gadhafi at the hands of rebel fighters, aided by NATO air forces, including fighter jets from Canada.

Dr. Adel Esayed, the national director for the voting in Canada, was among the first to vote when polls opened.

With tears in his eyes, Esayed said he never dared to dream that free elections would be held in Libya.

Canada is among just six countries were Libyans living abroad are able to vote to elect a new 200-seat national assembly.

The others are the United States, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and the United Kingdom.

Voting in Libya itself is set to take place on Saturday.

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