Protesters storm Libya election office

Armed protesters storm Libya's national election commission office in Benghazi.

The protest comes just a week before the country is set to elect a national assembly that will draw up a new constitution.

The protesters say they are calling for greater autonomy in Libya's east.

Piles of voting lists, ballot papers and other documents were set ablaze at the gates of the election commission.

In May, a self-proclaimed autonomous council for Libya's oil-producing eastern province called on people in the region to boycott the July 7 election.

They said it would not give adequate representation to the east.

The election is a crucial milestone in shaping Libya's new institutions after the revolt last year that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Sarah Sheffer, Reuters