Libya’s transfer of power to assembly is peaceful

TRIPOLI, Libya – In a ceremony Wednesday, Libya’s first elected assembly took over power from the transitional council that has ruled the country since last year’s uprising against longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

The ceremony marked the first peaceful power transfer in Libya’s modern history.

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, head of the outgoing National Transitional Council, gave a conciliatory speech before dissolving his council and transferring power to the new assembly. He acknowledged the NTC’s failures in restoring security but said that the council ruled in “exceptional times.”

The 200-member assembly convened late at night with tight security measures on the anniversary of the liberation of Tripoli, when rebel forces marched into the capital.