Libyan constitution assembly calls on parliament to issue referendum law

TRIPOLI, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Constitution Drafting Assembly on Thursday called on the eastern-based parliament to issue the referendum law.

"The Assembly has made effort to pass the draft constitution. It will enable the Libyan people to exercise their constitutional right through the referendum," said Nooh Abdallah, the head of the Libyan Constitution Drafting Assembly, in a statement.

"We call on the House of Representatives to speed up the completion of its constitutional commitment through the issuance of the referendum law," he added.

Abdullah also called on all state institutions and the international community to assist the assembly in the referendum "in order to promote peaceful transfer of power and guarantee rights and freedoms."

Last July, the constitution drafting assembly voted for a draft constitution and presented it to the parliament.

However, the parliament said it refused to issue a referendum law pending a court ruling regarding the validity of the drafting procedures.

A month later, the appeals court ruled that the draft constitution should be suspended on grounds that the Assembly held the voting session on a holiday.

However, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the administrative judiciary is not competent to hear cases against the constitution assembly.

The parliament so far has made no comment regarding the ruling of the Supreme Court. Enditem