TRIPOLI, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Higher Council of State on Thursday warned against holding an early constitutional referendum, arguing that it could lead to constitutional challenges.

The draft constitution is still under deliberation, the council said in a statement released after Head of the Higher National Commission of Elections Imad Al-Sayah announced earlier that day that a referendum on a permanent constitution could be held before the end of February 2019.

"By studying the technical ability of the commission, referendum on the constitution could be held before the end of February next year. This will be determined accurately with the relevant institutions," Al-Sayah told a press conference in the capital Tripoli.

In July, the Constitution Draft Assembly passed a draft constitution for the country. The eastern-based House of Representatives (Parliament) approved the constitution referendum law in September.

Since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid political division, insecurity and chaos. The country remains politically divided although its political parties signed a UN-sponsored peace agreement in 2015. Enditem

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