Libyan assembly votes to follow Islamic law

[December 04, 2013]  TRIPOLI (Reuters) — Libya's General National Council assembly (GNC) voted on Wednesday to make Islamic Sharia law the base for all legislation and for all state institutions, a decision that may impact banking, criminal and financial law.

"Islamic law is the source of legislation in Libya," the GNC said in a statement after the vote. "All state institutions need to comply with this."

The immediate scope of the decision was not clear, but a special committee would review all existing laws to guarantee they comply with Sharia.

(Reporting by Firas Bosalum; writing by Patrick Markey; editing by Mark Trevelyan)