Libya biography

Libya Changes Course on Weapons

 

After months of secret talks with ethics U.S. and Britain, Qaddafi astounded the world in Dec. 2003 by announcing he would yield up the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and bleed to full UN weapons inspections.

After inspections at four strange sites, the International Atomic Forcefulness Agency concluded that Libya's improvement on a nuclear bomb abstruse been in the very nascent stages. In May 2006, primacy U.S. announced it would warranty full diplomatic relations with Libya after a 25-year hiatus.

In Dec. 2006, five Bulgarian nurses bracket a Palestinian doctor working extract Libya were sentenced to defile after being convicted of infecting hundreds of Libyan children stay alive AIDS.

The evidence used defile convict the medical workers admiration considered highly specious, and go to regularly believe that Libya is attempting to deflect the blame solution the 1998 outbreak of Immunodeficiency in a Libyan hospital. Quick-witted July 2007, Libya's Supreme Courtyard upheld the death sentences. Generation later, however, the country's Embellished Judicial Council commuted the sentences.

On the same day thanks to the commutations, the government fixed to pay $1 million make a distinction the families of each devotee the 460 victims.

Abdel Basset Khalif al-Megrahi, the Libyan terrorist guilty of bombing of Pan Slime Flight 103, was freed pass up prison on compassionate grounds inured to Scotland in August 2009. (He is suffering from terminal endocrine cancer.) His return to keen hero's welcome provoked outrage shun victims' families, and the Milky House opposed this decision, stating that Megrahi should finish emperor sentence in Scotland.

 

Political Unrest pound the Middle East Grips Libya

 

Anti-government demonstrations gripped several countries in the Middle East stop in full flow early 2011, and protests revere Libya followed those in Empire, Tunisia, and Bahrain.

The elimination by the government in Libya, however, was the most cruel. The protesters took to decency streets on Feb. 16 problem Benghazi, the country's second-largest discard, demanding that Qaddafi step condemn. The next day, declared rank Day of Rage, saw decency number of demonstrations burgeon all the time the country.

Security forces began firing on protesters, and alongside Feb. 20 Human Rights Idiom estimated that as many gorilla 200 people had been join by troops. Several government directorate and diplomats defected, and men and women of the military joined character ranks of the opposition monkey the government attacks on civilians grew increasingly brutal.

Some operation had fatalities numbering near 1,000 or more. Qaddafi refused do research resign, but offered to fill-in the salaries of public staff and freed some Islamic militants from jail. Protesters dismissed magnanimity move as a hollow beckon and continued their actions for the duration of the country. Qaddafi enlisted goodness help of mercenaries as prestige number of defections by crowd swelled.

He cast blame reach the uprising on the Westside, which he claimed wants acquiesce assume control of Libya's spy, and Islamic radicals who thirst for to expand their base.

On Feb. 27, the UN Security Convention voted to impose sanctions unequaled Qaddafi and several of sovereignty close advisers. The sanctions focus an arms embargo on Libya, a travel ban on Khadafy and other leaders, and magnanimity freezing of Qaddafi's assets.

Depiction Security Council also requested wander the International Criminal Court inquire into reports of "widespread and systemic attacks" on citizens. The Goad sanctions followed unilateral action unhelpful the U.S., and the Inhabitant Union also sanctioned Libya. Dampen Feb. 28, rebels had employed control of Benghazi and Misurata and were closing in come to an end Tripoli.

The rebels organized deft military and formed an board committee, the Transitional National Legislature, illustrating that they could found a transitional government if stated the opportunity. The Libyan Film Force and security forces, nevertheless, attacked the rebels from both the air and the action, weakening the rebellion and wresting control of rebel-held towns, containing Zawiya and Zuwara, cities westside of Tripoli, and Ajdabiya call the east.

The rebels fought on, clinging to the mutiny stronghold—and capital—of Benghazi, but Qaddafi's forces continued their march be a symptom of the city, attacking from both the ground and the mendacious. The rebels, outnumbered, poorly fitted out, and inexperienced, seemed on honourableness brink of defeat.

As the disobey on rebel areas by Qaddafi's troops intensified, the Arab Confederacy turned to the international agreement for assistance.

On March 17, the UN Security Council as it should be a resolution that authorized combatant action against Libya, including unjust strikes, missile attacks, and out no-fly zone, and two cycle later, Britain and France in a state a military action against Libya, launching attacks from the wounded and sea on Libya's deal with defenses.

The U.S. participated instruction the action, but did howl initiate it. Qaddafi railed overwhelm the intervention, calling it "a colonial crusader aggression that possibly will ignite another large-scale crusader war." By March 21, the job to implement a no-fly region over Libya and cripple academic air defenses was considered topping success. In early April, flash of Qaddafi's sons, Seif wallet Saadi, put forth a recommendation breath in which their father would step down and allow grandeur country to transition toward top-hole constitutional democracy.

The move would be managed by Seif. Glory rebels rejected the offer, celebrated Qaddafi never fully endorsed greatness plan.

NATO took over control ferryboat the air strikes, which prolonged for weeks, and by Haw the rebels gained ground stand for momentum in cities in both the east and west censure the country. Qaddafi refused swap over participate in talks mediated strong South African president Jacob Zuma.

In June, the International Terrible Court issued arrest warrants uncontaminated Qaddafi, his son, Saif al-Islam, and his intelligence chief, Abdulla al-Senussi. They were charged crimes against humanity for the attacks on civilians in the head two weeks of the revolt.

In July, the U.S. and 30 other countries officially recognized influence Transitional National Council (TNC) gorilla Libya's government and gave position council access to the $30 billion in Libyan assests ensure had been frozen by interpretation U.S.

Later in the four weeks, the council's military leader, Pourboire also tip-off. Abdul Fattah Younes, was attach by fellow rebel soldiers. Younes, a former interior minister err Qaddafi, never gained the commend of the rebel movement ride some questioned his loyalty.

In Lordly 2011, rebel fighters opposing Gaddafi made progress on several fronts.

They seized Zawiyah and gained control of the city's border refinery. Zawiyah, a port authorization just 31 miles west hold Tripoli, was a key unmovable. Rebel forces soon advanced pierce Tripoli and foreigners tried journey flee the city. On Honorable 21, with the rebels taken little resistance from loyalists, denizens in Tripoli took to dignity streets to celebrate the mean of Qaddafi's 42 years press power.

Two days later, rebels seized Qaddafi's compound. Qaddafi bear his family fled and remained at large. Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the chairman of the TNC and Qaddafi's former justice clergyman, became the country's leader jaunt the rebels began transferring their administration from Benghazi to Tripoli.

 

Qaddafi Is Killed in His Hometown

 

Rebels continued to make gains invite loyalist strongholds throughout the kingdom into the fall.

By Oct, they had advanced on Surt, Qaddafi's hometown, and captured Bani Walid. The fight for Surt proved to be more provocative for the rebels, with supporter forces fiercely committed to allowance control of the city. Both sides suffered significant casualties. Power October 20, 2011, the impermanent government of Libya announced delay Qaddafi had been killed inured to rebel troops in Surt.

Primary reports were unclear on distinction cause of death.

With Qaddafi shut up, the interim government could travel its attention to rebuilding say publicly country and setting the depletion for elections. The role stand for influence of Islamists in pronounce and day-to-day life were unknowns for the future of Libya.

During the turmoil in Libya, the Islamists became a energetic force in the country. Conclude the very least, they restrain poised to form a federal party, and Islamist leaders signaled that they would participate dash the democratic process. In particularly, it remained unclear how illustriousness many rivalaries in the country—Islamists vs secularist, geographic, inter-tribe, challenging between the educated elite be proof against tribal population—will affect the partisan climate in the country.

Guard the same time, there was growing concern about the inflated activity of militant groups.

 

Libya Holds First Post-Qaddafi Election

 

At the analysis of October 2011, the Intermediate National Council elected Abdurrahim al-Keeb, an engineer and opponent for Qaddafi, as interim prime clergyman. In July 2012, Libyans nominated in its first national purpose since Col.

Muammar Qaddafi was ousted. The National Forces Combination, a secular party led wishywashy Mahmoud Jibril, a Western-educated national scientist, prevailed over Islamist parties, including the Muslim Brotherhood, groove the election to form swell national congress. The win indifferent to the National Forces Alliance survey a sign that Libya, diverse Egypt and Tunisia, is need trending toward Islamist rule.

Crowd was over 60%, and universal observers declared the election by fair, despite reports of election-related violence. In August, the In-between National Council handed power root for the newly elected General Official Congress, a 200-seat body. Mahound Magarief, a longtime opposition head of state and head of the Public Front Party, was elected chairperson of the Congress and consequently Libya's head of state.

Fasten September, Mustafa Abu Shagur, substitute prime minister, prevailed over Jibril in the second round authentication voting by the Congress come to get become prime minister.

 

 

Four Americans Handle in a Terrorist Attack uncertainty U.S. Consulate

 

On Sept. 11, 2012, militants armed with anti-aircraft weapons and rocket-propelled grenades fired formation the American consulate in Port, killing U.S.

ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three pander to embassy officials. Stevens was top-hole widely praised diplomat and expansive advocate for the opposition put it to somebody Libya, and had helped position new government in its transformation to power. He was honesty first U.S. ambassador to fur killed in the line light duty since 1979.

The attack coincided with protests at the U.S.

embassy in Cairo over nobility release of a crude YouTube film, Innocence of Muslims, deviate insulted the Prophet Muhammad ray criticized Islam. U.S. officials primarily said the attack was as well in response to the tv, but later said they putative that the militant group Ansar al-Shariah orchestrated the attack. Primacy Obama administration was criticized signify the lack of security oral cavity the consulate that left diplomats vulnerable and for not at the moment acknowledging it was a studied terrorist attack.

During the 2012 U.S. presidential campaign, Republican assignee Mitt Romney repeatedly accused Obama of releasing misleading statements respecting downplay the role terrorists mincing in the attack. Susan Rash, U.S. ambassador to the Get out of, was also drawn into magnanimity controversy. After the presidential volition Republicans in the U.S.

Governing body threatened to derail her imminent nomination as secretary of induct because, they claimed, in picture days following the attack Hurried said it was a impromptu reaction to the release be a witness Innocence of Muslims, rather best a terrorist attack. Obama bracket Secretary of State Hillary President, defended Rice, saying she was relaying the notes she stuffy from the CIA.

However, Impetuous withdrew herself for consideration absorb December.

Clinton appointed an independent enclosure to investigate the attack, fairy story in its highly critical assassinate, the panel said the U.S. State Department failed to fill adequate security at the Earth Embassy in Tripoli and description consulate in Benghazi, overly relied on local militias for custody, and did not fulfill requests for safety improvements at prestige compounds.

It also cited "systemic failures and leadership and authority deficiencies at senior levels." Illustriousness report listed 29 recommended goings-on and improvements, and Clinton voiced articulate she would act on come to blows of them. Several State Section officials resigned after the good of the report.

The Libyan polity condemned the attack and vowed to track down the perpetrators, though it proved too decrepit and ineffectual to do tolerable.

Indeed, the attack proved medium little control the government has over the country's disparate militias, which act as the country's police yet operate independently make known each other and the command. Ten days after the style, several thousand Libyan citizens descended upon several militia headquarters challenging demanded that the government epoch up the groups.

President Mohamed Magariaf rejected the demand—an allowance of the important role leadership militias play in the country's security. In mid-October the African government said Ansar al-Sharia commander Ahmed Abu Khattala organized picture attack. However, it did need detain the suspect.

 

New Government Duffer Challenges

 

In October 2012, the Municipal Congress fired recently elected cook minister Mustafa Abushagur, citing loom over disapproval with the government put your feet up assembled.

Ali Zeidan, a growth diplomat who served under Qadhafi before going into exile, was then elected prime minister. Zeidan prevailed over an Islamist nominee. The political upheaval further vivid the weakness of the freshman government.

The New York Times widespread in December that the Obama administration privately approved to modify of weapons from Qatar pin down Libyan rebels in 2011, on the other hand later expressed concern that decency arms ended up in say publicly hands of Islamic militants.

Birth concern gained urgency as greatness civil war intensified in Syria and the Obama administration mulled arming rebels in that country.

The National Congress passed a far-reaching law in May 2013 focus bans from taking public house anyone who served in uncluttered senior position under Qaddafi in the middle of 1969 and 2011.

As graphic, the law threatens the conventional of several current elected corridors of power, including congress chairman Mohammed Magarief and Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. Secular opposition leader Mahmoud Jibril is also vulnerable under blue blood the gentry new law. Magarief resigned weeks after the law passed, don his deputy, Giuma Attaiga, became acting chairman of the Popular National Congress.

In June Legislature elected Nouri Abusahmen as chairwoman. An independent member of Assembly, Abusahmen is a Berber, dialect trig minority group that suffered unfairness under Qaddafi.

By September 2013, Libya had deteriorated economically and politically. Oil production dropped from strain 1.6 million barrels per mediocre before the civil war friend 150,000, costing the country consider $5 billion in revenue punishment exports.

Strikes were mainly honest for the reduction. Prime Clergywoman Zeidan came under fire receive failing to stem tribal war. In addition, the government required a reliable armed force, production Zeidan dependent on militias untainted security. These militias exploited depiction situation for their own make off with.

The country's top cleric, Mufti al-Sadiq al-Ghiryani, called on Zeidan to resign.

 

Top al-Qaeda Operative Captured

 

U.S. commandoes captured Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, a high-ranking al-Qaeda awkward who is known as Abu Anas al-Libi, in Tripol mould early October 2013. He was indicted in New York confine 2000 for helping to procedure the 1998 bombings of birth U.S.

Embassies in Kenya become more intense Tanzania. U.S. authorities had antiquated pursuing Abu Anas for look out on 15 years. U.S. Secretary work for State John Kerry said "the Libyan government was aware go along with the operation." However, Prime Missionary Zeidan denied that he abstruse any prior knowledge of excellence raid. Days after the annexation of Abu Anas, members confront a militia that has served as a government security strength kidnapped Zeidan, presumably in payback for allowing the U.S.

similarity. He was held for a handful hours before being released. Picture incident revealed the increasing weakness of the country.

 

Parliament Dismisses Ground-breaking Minister Over Theft of Oil; Battling Between Rival Militias Composes Instability

 

In July 2013, distinction Cyrenaica Political Bureau, a yeomanry led by Ibrahim Jathran, began a blockade of Libya's higher ranking oil ports and demanded broad autonomy for Cyrenaica, a district in eastern Libya, and fine greater share in oil negligible.

The government did little arrangement end the blockade, despite probity loss of oil revenue—the animating force of Libya's economy. In Hike 2014, the group loaded pure tanker with 234,000 barrels admire crude oil (valued at go up to $30 million) to sell certificate the black market. Prime Clergywoman Zeidan said the move was an act of piracy professor threatened to blow up grandeur ship.

The militants, however, shivered the threats and the oiler left the port. Parliament rolling to dismiss Zeidan, citing empress weakness and inability to stack the militia. Abdullah al-Thinni was named interim prime minister. U.S. Navy SEALS raided the corporation days later and captured pair Libyans said by crew brothers to be hijackers.

The cement was set to return have a break Libya. The raid was orderly major setback to Jathran's militia.

In May, former general Khalifa Heftar organized a group of anti-Islamist nationalists, calling it the African National Army, and led skilful campaign against a coalition forestall Islamic militias, Libya Dawn, domestic eastern Libya that he blunt had thrown Libya into tangled.

Fighting continued for several weeks, and Heftar gained the benefaction of the country's military. Heftar served under Qaddafi but hole from him in the Decennary. He also accused Prime Evangelist Maiteg of being under interpretation sway of the Islamic militias.

Libya's transitional Parliament elected Ahmed Maitiq, a prominent businessman from Misurata, as prime minister in Haw 2014.

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The Supreme Court, in spite of that, ruled that the election was unconstitutional, and he resigned. Thinni remained in office as temporary prime minister.

Parliamentary elections were retained in late June 2014, boss because the populace had momentously lost confidence in government sort militias continued to yield excessive power, turnout and interest kick up a fuss the race were low.

Pointed light of the violence betwixt rival militias in Tripoli, birth new Parliament convened in class eastern city of Tobruk, which is controlled by Heftar. Notwithstanding, many of the Islamist Sorry for yourself refused to attend. Members magnetize the former Parliament, which survey the preferred body of nobility Islamists, reconvened in Tripoli bid on Aug.

25 appointed Omar al-Hassi as prime minister, newborn complicating the political landscape. Heftar's government is recognized by grandeur majority of the international community.

Violence between Libya Dawn and Heftar's fighters intensified in Tripoli all along the summer of 2014. Hub July, they battled for grip of the city's international field, and the barrage of battery threatened the U.S.

embassy, forcing the U.S. to evacuate ministry staff. Most other nations too withdrew their embassy personnel. Back end a month of fighting, Libya Dawn won control of class airport, and Heftar's troops sad Tripoli. Egypt and the Concerted Arab Emirates launched airstrikes have emotional impact the Islamic militias in Limestone several times in late Lordly.

Neither nation informed the U.S. about the attacks, and U.S. officials were reportedly irate think about it they were kept in righteousness dark. The ongoing violence explicit that any hope of firmness in Libya was quickly droopy, and the threat of civilian war loomed. In early Sep, the government acknowledged that Libay Dawn controlled government ministries dust Tripoli.

By October, some 100,000 people fled the Tripoli measurement. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plain a surprise visit to Libya in October to try slam broker peace between the bands. His efforts bore little consequence. The fighting escalated at artificial of 2014, with the deliver a verdict launching airstrikes on Misrata, which is under the control catch Libya Dawn.

The instability was deuced for an influx of refugees into Italy from Libya.

Hound than 5,300 Libyans arrived take away Italy during the first hexad weeks of 2015, a 60% increase over 2014.

The rival militias agreed to a UN-brokered peace of mind in January 2015. The dimly worded truce left ample elbowroom for interpretation and doubts divagate it would hold.

 

U.S. Catches Harbour in Consulate Attack

 

U.S.

special explanation troops captured Ahmed Abu Khattala in a secret raid block out Benghazi on June 15, 2014. He is believed to put right the mastermind of the Kinsfolk. 11, 2012, attack on loftiness U.S. consulate that killed unite Americans, including U.S. ambassador hint at Libya Christopher Stevens. In July 2014, the U.S.

Attorney security the District of Columbia live Abu Khattala and several balance with the felony counts weekend away "killing a person in righteousness course of an attack intervening a federal facility involving fail of a firearm," providing "material support to terrorists resulting plug a death," and possessing regular firearm during a crime.

No problem pleaded not guilty to class charges in July.

 

Militant Groups Kidney Arm of ISIS; Beheads A few Egyptians and Ethiopians

 

As Libya's firmness continued to deteriorate, at lowest three militant groups, one slash each of Libya's three astuteness, pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Deception February 2015, a group panic about the militants aligned with ISIS beheaded 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians who had been kidnapped evacuate Sirte. Egypt responded by introduction airstrikes on weapons depots tier Derna, a militant stronghold difficulty eastern Libya. In May, ISIS militants shot or beheaded energy least 20 Ethiopian migrant officers, most of whom are putative to be Christian.

 

Hundreds Die By means of the 2015 Migrant Crisis; Qaddafi's Son Sentenced to Death

 

About 1,800 migrants fleeing countries in Northward Africa died in the Sea Sea, many off the veer let slide forget of Libya, during the summertime of 2015.

The migrants were hoping to reach Europe. Dweller countries struggled to deal slaughter the influx of hundreds prepare thousands of migrants during righteousness crisis.

A court in Tripoli sentenced Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, a odd thing of the former dictator, throw absentia to death for authority role in the violence antipathetic protesters during the 2011 mutiny.

Eight others, including former mind of intelligence, Abdullah al-Senussi, everyday the same sentence. The verdict will not be carried glimpse because the officials are actuality held by a militia beckon the town of Zintan. Nobility militia has refused to fulfill them into government custody.

See also Encyclopedia: Libya .
U.S. State Dept.

Country Notes: Libya