Libya’s National Transitional Council has formally handed over power to a newly elected assembly.

NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil passed the reins to the oldest member of the 200-strong congress at a symbolic ceremony in Tripoli.

The NTC is the political arm of the forces that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi a year ago.

“The National Transitional Council hands over the constitutional duties for leading the state to the general national congress”, said Jalil, “which from now on is the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people.”

His speech was met with enthusiastic applause. But Wednesday’s ceremony took place in an atmosphere of heightened security.

There have been a number of violent incidents recently. On Sunday security forces killed three armed men suspected of being behind seven failed bomb plots.

The first job of the new congress will be to try to bring some stability to post-Gaddafi Libya.

SOURCE: euronews