The National Forces Alliance (NFA) coalition led by former rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril has gained 39 seats in Libya’s new parliament following the country’s first elections in five decades.

The Muslim Brotherhood’s Justice and Construction Party (JCP) won 17 seats, according the local Tripoli Post. The results were announced in a ceremony at the Higher National Electoral Commission (HNEC) late on 17 July.

The General National Congress (GNC), Libya’s new parliament, has 200 seats, only 80 of which have been allocated for political parties. The remaining 120 seats will be split between independent candidates.

According to the HNEC, more than 1.8 million Libyans voted in the 7 July elections, about 62 per cent of registered voters. Women made up 39 per cent of the voters. More than 3,700 candidates stood for election along with more than 100 parties.

Official results will be announced by the HNEC after 1 August, allowing time for appeals against the preliminary count.

The GNC is an interim body that will replace the outgoing National Transitional Council and is tasked with drawing up a new constitution. This must be adopted with a two-thirds majority before being ratified by a referendum. Another general election is planned to be held within 180 days of the constitution referendum. The whole process could be over by the middle of 2013.