Libya's new parliament elects president

Greece evacuates 79 Chinese from Libya

BENGHAZI -- Libya's new parliament on Monday elected Akila Saleh Issa as its president during the first parliamentary session in the eastern city of Tobruk.

In a heavily guarded hotel, Issa was chosen as the president of Libya's House of Representatives after getting 77 out of the 158 votes.

Sources said Issa was an independent lawmaker from the eastern town of al-Qobba and had played some judicial roles under Muammar Gaddafi.

According to Libya's transitional plan, the new parliament, House of Representatives, has replaced the former interim General National Congress and a presidential election will ensue to end the country's transitional phase.

However, the new parliament's first session has been boycotted by some of the lawmakers and was forced to move its meeting place from Tripoli to Benghazi and then to Tobruk, as heavy clashes between rival militias raged on the major cities.