International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest

Extract

Colonel Muammar al-Qadaffi (variously spelled) has ruled Libya since coming to power in the september 1, 1969 coup d'état that deposed Libya's King Idris I. He retired from public office in 1979, but continues to rule under the ceremonial title “leader of the revolution.” Born to Bedouin nomads in a tent in the sirte Desert, as Axis and Allies battled over North Africa, Qadaffi began his formal education at age nine in 1951, the year Libya attained independence under a pro-western monarchy. At age 14 Qadaffi saw his idol, Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918–1970) , nationalize the suez Canal in neighboring Egypt, and the teenager was expelled for leading anti-colonial demonstrations that same year. Qadaffi enrolled in university and military academy in 1963 and secretly organized a group of student revolutionaries. His return from studying communications in England coincided with the Arab defeat in the 1967 June War. Two years later, the 27-year-old sublieutenant announced his coup over Libyan radio. Qadaffi hoped Nasser would incorporate Libya and confront Israel after reviving Arab unity, which was lagging following the failed Egypt-syria merger as the United Arab Republic (1958–61). The ascent of Qadaffi heralded a regional trend toward durable nationalist dictators, with syria's Hafiz al-Asad and Iraq's saddam Hussein emerging soon after. Qadaffi banished foreign residents, closed foreign ... log in or subscribe to read full text