Abu-Bakr Gurman of Ottawa shows his dyed finger after casting his ballot as the first Libyan-Canadian to vote during the first day of the Libyan National Congress Elections in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 3, 2012. Canada is one of just six countries with Libyans living abroad that are making voting available. The others are the United States, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and the United Kingdom. Libya will vote on July 7th. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
July 03, 2012 - 12:06 PM
OTTAWA - 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 today 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.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012