Mustafa Abu Shagour, the incumbent Deputy Prime Minister, was elected as Libya's new premier on 12 September after defeating Mahmoud Jibril in a close-run vote in the national assembly.

Two rounds of voting were held in the 200-member General National Congress, which was itself elected in July this year. Among the other runners were Awad Barasi, the current Minister of Electricity and a candidate linked to the Muslim Brotherhood's Justice and Construction Party, and Fathi Akkari, the deputy Minister for Higher Education.

No candidate win an outright majority in the first round, although Jibril  - who held senior economic positions in the final years of the Gaddafi regime before playing a prominent political role in the 2011 uprising - secured the largest number of votes. 

The first round results were as follows:

• Mahmoud Jibril - 86
• Mustafa Abu Shagour - 55
• Awad Barasi - 41
• Abdulhamid al-Nami - 3
• Mohamed Mabrouk al-Zwai - 2
• Fathi Akkari - 1
• Mohamed al-Mufti - 1
• Mohamed Berween - 1

In the second round run-off, which was broadcast live on television, Abu Shagour won 96 votes against Jibril's 94. 

The new premier lived in the US for many years before returning to Libya last year. He was appointed as deputy prime minister in November. Abu Shagour is expected to formally take over the role next month and is reportedly required to name a cabinet within two weeks. 

The vote took place a day after the US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, was killed in an armed assault on the US consulate in Benghazi.

Improving security in the country is now likely to be an even higher priority on the new government's agenda.