Libyan Voters Taste Democracy for First Time in Decades

A bullet-scarred building in the Libyan city of Misrata is now a polling station.

            

Voters line up, cast votes, and dip their fingers in ink to mark their participation in the first election here in more than 40 years.  

 

[Basma Forteyh, Misrata Voter]:    

"My feeling is that for the first time in our life we feel we are human. We can choose what we want, it's a joy for all Libyan people, and, God willing, it will get better and better."   

           

Misrata was the scene of the bloodiest battle in the eight-month war that ousted Muammar Gaddafi. 

             

Its voters will elect 28 members of a local council - tasked with rebuilding a city of 300,000 people bombed beyond recognition by Gaddafi forces.  

            

Crippled by wounds in battle, former revolutionary fighter Mohammed Ali says the sacrifice has paid off. 

             

[Mohammed Ali, Wounded former Revolutionary Fighter]:         

"I feel like I've achieved all I've worked for, all I've fought for and everything my friends died for. I feel like we've achieved that, thank God, and thanks to the efforts of all the revolutionaries and all the fighters here. Thank God the blood of our martyrs hasn't been shed in vain." 

             

Libya's interim national government will hold elections in June to choose a national assembly.