The liberal vote has won over Islamists in Libya in what was the first democratic poll in over 40 years – but there was no majority win. The final results revealed that the NFA (National Forces Alliance) got 39 of the 80 seats allocated to political parties in the vote where there was a 62% turnout overall.

Just over 10 days ago hundreds of people across Tripoli and Misrata happily queued for hours to cast their vote: men and women alike. Everyone hopeful that the first free election since Colonel Gaddafi was ousted would ensure a final casting off of his cloak so to speak and a steady move towards a more settled and considered rule which can balance the autonomy that the south of the country demands, while easing the unrest in the south.

Islamists have given way to the more secular and liberal alliance though, with the NFA party, led by the former interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, winning 39 votes. The Muslim Brotherhood's Justice and Construction party came second with 17 seats. Reports suggest now that both those parties are trying to win over the smaller parties and indie candidates, so they can form a strong enough coalition to secure the two-thirds majorities needed to pass major laws and decisions in Congress.