Libyans vote in historic election - in pictures

Voters queue at polling stations across Libya keen to take part in the country's first national election after more than four decades of dictatorship Photograph: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP

A Libyan woman in Martyrs' Square, Tripoli, holds a framed photograph of a person killed during the uprising Photograph: Manu Brabo/AP

A Libyan woman votes at a polling station in the old city of Tripoli Photograph: Manu Brabo/AP

A Libyan protester demanding greater representation throws torn ballots in the air outside a polling station in Benghazi Photograph: Mohammed Abed/AFP

Libyans celebrate in Martyrs' Square in Tripoli after voting Photograph: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP

Citizens take up arms to protect the polling stations in Benghazi Photograph: Esam Omran al-Fetori/Reuters

A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Benghazi Photograph: Esam Omran al-Fetori/Reuters

An armed Libyan protester gestures as people demanding greater representation demonstrate outside a polling station in Benghazi Photograph: Mohammed Abed/AFP

An election commission worker tells two Libyan women to use separate polling booths Photograph: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters

Libyans gather in the streets of Benghazi to celebrate the election Photograph: Youssef Boudlal/Reuters

Libyans celebrate on the streets after casting their vote in Benghazi Photograph: Esam Omran al-Fetori/Reuters

A woman walks past a ballot booth at a polling station in Tripoli Photograph: Reuters

A Libyan man chants revolutionary slogans while celebrating in Martyrs' Square, Tripoli Photograph: Manu Brabo/AP

Libyans celebrate on the streets of Tripoli after casting their vote Photograph: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters

Men look for their names on a voters list at a polling station in Tripoli Photograph: Manu Brabo/AP