Libyans have started voting for a new parliament, as many hope that the election will ease the turmoil that has gripped the country since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi three years ago.

The vote is another step in Libya’s transition after decades of one-man rule, but it comes as the country slides towards chaos, after a renegade army general opened a campaign against Islamist militants in the east.

Participation is widely expected to be lower than it was in 2012 after the election commission tightened registration rules.

Around 1.5 million voters have registered, roughly half the 2.8 million registered in July 2012 for Libya’s first free election in more than 40 years.

“So far we haven’t heard about any disturbances happening in any of the polling stations throughout the country.

The whole process is going on quite smoothly at this moment,”polling station manager said.

“We are optimistic about our future and no matter what faults have happened in the past. We still believe that we can have a bright future,” A Libyan voter said.

– Xinhua/NAN