Tripoli, Aug 5 (IANS): The new Libyan parliament has elected Akila Saleh Issa as its president during its session in the eastern city of Tobruk.
In a heavily guarded hotel, Issa was chosen as the president of Libya's House of Representatives Monday, after getting 77 out of the 158 votes, Xinhua reported.
Issa, an independent lawmaker from the eastern town of al-Qobba had also played some judicial roles under late dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
According to Libya's transitional plan, the new parliament, House of Representatives, has replaced the former interim General National Congress and a presidential election will ensue to end the country's transitional phase.
However, the new parliament's first session has been boycotted by some of the lawmakers and was forced to move its meeting place from Tripoli to Benghazi and then to Tobruk, as heavy clashes between rival militias raged on the major cities.
According to the ministry of health, the fighting, which started last month, has killed over 200 people and injured 1,000, while thousands more have been displaced inside and outside of the country.
After the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been suffering a security vacuum as it desperately attempts to make a democratic political transition.