to impose rule of law, and there is "a sense of instability in an already fragile system."

Martin reported progress in preparing for the election, noting that since registration began on May 1, over one million people have signed up to vote which "is no small achievement," though only 36 percent are women.

He said another positive sign are local elections starting in Misrata in February, which are being followed by a number of other cities, some in the coming weeks.

"Libyans are increasingly exercising their freedom of speech: free media is developing at a rapid pace and civil society organizations, many of them led by youth and women, are being established across the country," Martin said. "One can clearly sense that for the first time in a generation, people areunafraid to speak out."

With the newfound freedom, however, local conflicts that had been repressed before the revolution are resurfacing, some escalating into armed conflicts, he said.

Martin cited fighting in the southwestern city of Sabha that left 147 people dead in March, fighting between towns in western Libya, and deadly clashes that erupted for this second time this year in the southeastern town of Kufra.

"In each case, the government took swift action in deploying forces and mediation capacities immediately after the conflicts started, and with each case the government's reaction improved and lessons learned were taken into consideration," Martin said.

But he said the government must provide long-term security, deliver services, and pursue reconciliation in those areas and other cities such as Bani Walid and Sirte, Gadhafi's hometown.

Martin said the