Washington, Sha'ban 18, 1433, Jul 8, 2012, SPA - U.S. President Barack Obama hailed Libya's election on Saturday as a milestone in its post-Gaddafi democratic transition and pledged that the United States would act as a partner. In a statement after Libyans went to the polls, Obama said "The United States is proud of the role that we played in supporting the Libyan revolution and protecting the Libyan people, and we look forward to working closely with the new Libya - including the elected congress and Libya's new leaders," Obama said. "We will engage as partners as the Libyan people work to build open and transparent institutions, establish security and the rule of law, advance opportunity and promote unity and national reconciliation," he said. "There are still difficult challenges ahead and voting needs to be completed in some areas." Libyans defied violence to cast ballots for a 200-member assembly that will name a prime minister and pave the way for parliamentary elections in 2013, according to a report of Reuters. --SPA 11:43 LOCAL TIME 08:43 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1013929