A military force halted the municipal elections in the desert town of Zella, southwest Libya, on Saturday, the Central Committee for Municipal Council Elections (CCMCE) has said.

In a press briefing, representatives of the committee said they have been preparing for these elections for months.

The Ministries of Local Government and the Interior had begun an investigation into the incident to reveal those behind the act, the committee's officials told the reporters.

As for the municipal elections in Khums city, the participation rate reached 72%, according to the CCMCE, which considered the turnout excellent compared with other municipal elections in the country.

It confirmed that the electoral process proceeded with no violations as the polling stations closed their doors at the specified time at six in the evening, nine hours after receiving the voters.

They called on voters to show responsibility and cooperate with the staff in order to make the elections a success, away from regionalism.