Map:
Flag description: plain green; green is the traditional color
of Islam (the state religion)
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 17 00 E
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy) (Revolution Day,
1 September (1969) )
Nationality: Libyan(s)
Capital City: Tripoli
Population: 5,115,450
Head of State: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI
(since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto
chief of state
Area: 1,759,540 sq km
Type of Government: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory,
governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Currency:
Major peoples: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians,
Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religion: Sunni Muslim 97%
Official Language:
Principal Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely
understood in the major cities
Major Exports: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural
gas
History: Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans all established colonies
in the area of present-day Libya. Arab domination began in the 7th
century. In 1510, Spain conquered Tripoli and ruled until 1551 when
Turkish forces made Libya part of the OTTOMAN EMPIRE. In 1711 the
area became virtually autonomous and enjoyed 125 years of prosperity based
on piracy directed by the Karamanli family; in 1835, however, Ottoman rule
was reasserted.
In 1911, Italy declared war on Turkey and annexed Libya, making it
a colony in 1934. Italian settlement was opposed by the nationalist
Sanusi (conservative Sunni Muslims), whose leaders subsequently returned
from exile to fight alongside the Allies and drive Italian and German forces
out of Libya during World War II. After the war, Libya was placed under
British and French administration. Italy gave up attempts to regain
control in 1947, and the United Nations granted Libya independence effective
in 1951 as the United Kingdom of Libya; the Sanusi leader Muhammad
Idris of Cyrenaica became King IDRIS I.
In 1969, Idris was deposed, and Qaddafi and the Revolutionary Command
Council seized power. Qaddafi, known for his radical Arab nationalism,
has been a persistent foe of Israel and has attempted unsuccessfully to
merge Libya with Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia, Chad, Morocco, and Algeria.
Qaddafi has been accused of interfering in the internal affairs of a number
of African states; he provided arms and military training to various
rebel groups, including the one that overthrew the government of Chad in
December 1990.
Qaddafi's activities also involved him in conflicts
with the United States, France, and Great Britain. After the United
States launched air attacks on Libyan targets in 1986 in retaliation for
Qaddafi's support of international terrorism, government agencies were
moved from Tripoli to remote villages. Qaddafi survived coup attempts
in 1970, 1975, and 1984. He released many political prisoners and
moderated some of his radical economic policies in 1988. But popular
discontent again mounted after the UN ordered a ban on arms sales and airline
flights to Libya on Apr. 15, 1992.
The sanctions were imposed because
Qaddafi refused to turn over two Libyan security agents suspected of involvement
in the 1988 downing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, for
trial outside Libya.