Registration for candidates in Libya's presidential and parliamentary elections should open in November, the head of the electoral commission said on Sunday.

Elections are a key step in a U.N.-backed process to end a decade of violence by creating a new political leadership whose legitimacy is widely accepted.

But wrangling over the constitutional basis for elections, the rules governing them and questions over their credibility have threatened to unravel the peace process in recent months.

The first round of the presidential election is due to be held on Dec. 24. A second round, along with a parliamentary election, will then be held at a later date, said the commission head, Emad al-Sayah.

He said the registration process should open by mid-November, after technical and logistical preparations were complete.