EU gives mixed report on Libya

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BRUSSELS, July 24 (UPI) -- The European Union welcomed steps taken by Libya since the civil war ended but expressed concern about its commitment to the rule of law.

Libyans recently voted in their first election in a generation. The U.N. mission in Libya said it estimated 2.8 million of the estimated 3.4 million registered voters cast their ballots for members of the National Congress.

The Council of the European Union, during a foreign policy meeting in Brussels, adopted a conclusion expressing recognition of the vote, characterized as a "significant milestone."

Preliminary vote results announced July 17 suggested the National Forces Alliance of former interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril won roughly 20 percent of the open seats in the 200-member assembly.

The European Union, however, expressed concern about human rights violations in the country since Moammar Gadhafi's government collapsed last year.

"The EU urges the Libyan central government to accelerate the process of bringing all places of detention under its full control," a statement read.

Human Rights Watch said it believed most of the prisoners held in Libya were guards, mercenaries and members of the national security forces. Many of them, the group said, were subjected to extensive torture while held in detention facilities run by militias.