Muammar muhammad al-gaddafi biography for kids

Despite the atmosphere of severe repression, demonstrations broke out in the city of Benghazi and spread throughout Libya. Qaddafi used aggressive force to try to suppress the protests, and the violence quickly escalated. Police and foreign mercenaries were brought in to shoot at protesters, and helicopters were sent to bombard citizens from the air.

As casualties mounted, Libyans grew more determined to see Qaddafi's ouster. As violence spread through the country, Qaddafi made several rambling speeches on state television, claiming the demonstrators were traitors, foreigners, al-Qaeda and drug addicts. He urged his supporters to continue the fight, and small groups of heavily armed loyalists battled against the rebels.

By the end of Februarythe opposition had gained control over much of the country, and the rebels formed a governing body called the National Transitional Council. The opposition surrounded Tripoli, where Qaddafi still had some support. Most of the international community expressed support for the NTC and called for the ouster of Qaddafi. At the end of March, a NATO coalition began to provide support for the rebel forces in the form of airstrikes and a no-fly zone.

NATO's military intervention over the next six months proved to be decisive. When Tripoli fell to rebel forces in late August, it was seen as a major victory for the opposition and a symbolic end for Qaddafi's rule. In Junethe International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of Qaddafi, his son Seif al-Islam, and his brother-in-law for crimes against humanity.

Qaddafi had lost control of Libya, but his whereabouts were still unknown. On October 20,Libyan officials announced that Qaddafi had died near his hometown of Sirte, Libya. Early reports had conflicting accounts of his death, with some stating that he had been killed in a gun battle and others claiming that he had been targeted by a NATO aerial attack.

Video circulated of Qaddafi's bloodied body being dragged around by fighters. For months, Qaddafi and his family had been at large, believed to be hiding in the western part of the country where they still had small pockets of support. As news of the former dictator's death spread, Libyans poured into the streets, celebrating the what many hailed as the culmination of their revolution.

Post Qaddafi, Libya has continued to be embroiled in violence. With state authority eventually being held by the General National Congress, various militia groups have vied for power. Dozens of political figures and activists in Benghazi have been killed, with many having to leave the area. The conflict lasted one week before both sides agreed to sign a peace treaty that was brokered by several Arab states.

You are my brother for the rest of my life! If socialism is defined as a redistribution of wealth and resources, a socialist revolution clearly occurred in Libya after and most especially in the second half of the s. The management of the economy was increasingly socialist in intent and effect with wealth in housing, capital and land significantly redistributed or in the process of redistribution.

Private enterprise was virtually eliminated, largely replaced by a centrally controlled economy. In DecemberGaddafi stepped down as Secretary-General of the GPC, announcing his new focus on revolutionary rather than government activities; this was part of his new emphasis on separating the apparatus of the revolution from government. Although no longer in a formal government post, he adopted the title of "Leader of the Revolution" and continued as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Libya turned towards socialism. In Marchthe government issued guidelines for housing redistribution, attempting to ensure every adult owned their own home. Most families were banned from owning more than one house, while former rental properties were expropriated by the state and sold to the tenants at a heavily subsidized price. In Marchthe GPC announced the separation of government and revolution, the latter being represented by new Revolutionary Committees, who operated with the People's Committees in schools, universities, unions, the police force, and the military.

Inthe committees began the redistribution of land in the Jefara plain, continuing through Gaddafi remained adamant, and when it was again voted down by the GPC in Marchhe refused to abide by the muammar muhammad al-gaddafi biography for kids, declaring that "he who opposes the training and emancipation of women is an agent of imperialism, whether he likes it or not.

The Jamahiriya's radical direction earned the government many enemies. Most internal opposition came from Islamic fundamentalistsinspired by the events of the Iranian Revolution. At least eleven more were assassinated in Libyan relations with Lebanon and Shi'ite communities deteriorated due to the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr when visiting Libya; the Lebanese accused Gaddafi of having him killed or imprisoned, a charge he denied.

The mission failed; Libyans were killed, and Libya was forced to retreat. The first was a plot by conservative officers to assassinate him at a villa on the outskirts of Tripoli; the second was an assault on his convoy. Ishkal's death was attributed to JalloudKhalifa Hunaysh or Gaddafi. The civil war resumed, and Libya sent troops back in.

Consequently, he was placed under house arrest by Gaddafi and allegedly arrested by Libyan police and shot in the stomach. Libya suffered a humiliating defeat as it was completely expelled from Chad and its commander Khalifa Haftar captured, along with Libyan soldiers. Gaddafi disavowed Haftar and the other prisoners; one possible contributing factor to this repudiation may have been that Gaddafi had signed an agreement to withdraw Libyan forces, and Haftar's operations had been in violation of this.

Many African nations were tired of Libya's interference in their affairs; bynine African states had severed diplomatic relations, [ ] while in the OAU cancelled its scheduled conference in Tripoli to prevent Gaddafi gaining chairmanship. Proposing political unity with Morocco, in AugustGaddafi and Moroccan monarch Hassan II signed the Oujda Treatyforming the Arab—African Union; such a union was considered surprising due to the political differences and longstanding enmity that existed between the two.

Inthe new US president, Ronald Reaganpursued a hardline approach to Libya, viewing it as a puppet regime of the Soviet Union. The US shot down two Libyan Su planes which were on an intercept course. US ambassador to Italy Maxwell M. Rabbwho was Jewish, was urgently recalled due to threats against his life. Gaddafi denied the allegations. Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris.

After the US accused Libya of orchestrating the Berlin discotheque bombingin which two US soldiers died, Reagan decided to retaliate. One target had been Gaddafi's home. Himself unharmed, two of Gaddafi's sons were injured, and he claimed his adopted daughter Hanna was killed, although her existence has since been questioned. The late s saw a series of liberalizing economic reforms within Libya designed to cope with the decline in oil revenues.

In MayGaddafi announced the start of the "Revolution within a Revolution", which began with reforms to industry and agriculture and saw the re-opening of small business. Many of the measures suggested in the charter would be implemented the following year, although others remained inactive. In the aftermath of the US attack, the army was purged of perceived disloyal elements, [ ] and inGaddafi announced the creation of a popular militia to replace the army and police.

Several assassination attempts against Gaddafi were foiled, and in turn, saw the security forces raid mosques believed to be centres of counter-revolutionary preaching. In Octoberelements of the increasingly marginalized army, led by officers from the powerful Warfalla tribe, initiated a failed coup in Misrata and Bani Walid allegedly with help from the National Front for the Salvation of LibyaKhalifa Haftarand the CIA[ ] [ ] while in SeptemberIslamists launched an insurgency in Benghazi, and in July an anti-Gaddafist football riot broke out in Tripoli.

InGaddafi was overjoyed by the foundation of the Arab Maghreb Unionuniting Libya in an economic pact with Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, viewing it as beginnings of a new pan-Arab union. British police investigations identified two Libyans — Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and Lamin Khalifah Fhimah — as the chief suspects, and in November issued a declaration demanding that Libya hand them over.

When Gaddafi refused, citing the Montreal Conventionthe United Nations UN imposed Resolution in Marchinitiating economic sanctions against Libya which had deep repercussions for the country's economy. Rahman and Rashid both had business ties to Libya. Many Arab and African states opposed the UN sanctions, with Mandela criticizing them on a visit to Gaddafi in Octoberwhen he praised Libya for its work in fighting apartheid and awarded Gaddafi the Order of Good Hope.

During the final years of the 20th century, Gaddafi—frustrated by the failure of his pan-Arab ideals and the refusal of the Arab world to challenge the international air embargo imposed on Libya—increasingly rejected Arab nationalism in favour of pan-Africanismemphasizing Libya's African identity. At the opening ceremonies, he called for African states to reject conditional aid from the developed world, a direct contrast to the message of South African President Thabo Mbeki.

At the third AU summit, held in Tripoli, Libya, in JulyGaddafi called for greater muammar muhammad al-gaddafi biography for kids, advocating a single AU passport, a common defence system, and a single currency, using the slogan: "The United States of Africa is the hope. Meanwhile, Gaddafi continued to have testy relationships with most of his fellow Arab leaders.

Gaddafi accused Saudi Arabia of having made an "alliance with the devil" when it invited the US to intervene in the Gulf War. Abdullah responded that Gaddafi was a "liar" and an "agent of colonizers" and threatened Gaddafi that "your grave awaits you. InLibya began secret talks with the British government to normalize relations. Libya continued to deny any role in the bombing.

In exchange, Libya would take measures to combat illegal immigration coming from its shores and boost investment in Italian companies. After the US removed Libya from its list of state sponsors of terrorism in[ ] Gaddafi nevertheless continued his anti-Western rhetoric. At the Arab League summitheld in Syria, he warned fellow Arab leaders that they could be overthrown and executed by the US like Saddam Hussein.

Gaddafi allegedly financed Nicolas Sarkozy in the French presidential election. Libya's economy witnessed increasing privatization ; although rejecting the socialist policies of nationalized industry advocated in The Green Bookgovernment figures asserted that they were forging "people's socialism" rather than capitalism. Many socialist policies remained however, with subsidiaries of logistics company HB Group being nationalized in While there was no accompanying political liberalization, with Gaddafi retaining predominant control, [ ] in Marchthe government devolved further powers to the municipal councils.

He led a group who proposed the drafting of a new constitution, although it was never adopted. He suggested that Tunisia's people would be satisfied if Ben Ali introduced a Jamahiriyah system there. Unlike Tunisia or Egypt, Libya was largely religiously homogeneous and had no strong Islamist movement, but there was widespread dissatisfaction with the corruption and entrenched systems of patronage, while unemployment had reached around 30 percent.

Accusing the rebels of being "drugged" and linked to al-Qaeda, Gaddafi proclaimed that he would die a martyr rather than leave Libya.

Muammar muhammad al-gaddafi biography for kids: Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi

In the conflict's early months it appeared that Gaddafi's government—with its greater fire-power—would be victorious. In June, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam, and his brother-in-law Abdullah Senussihead of state security, for charges concerning crimes against humanity. The report added that "much Western media coverage has from the outset presented a very one-sided view of the logic of events, portraying the protest movement as entirely peaceful and repeatedly suggesting that the regime's security forces were unaccountably massacring unarmed demonstrators".

They are worthless". Aided by NATO air cover, the rebel militia pushed westward, defeating loyalist armies and securing control of the centre of the country. Fleeing to a construction site, Gaddafi and his inner cohort hid inside drainage pipes while his bodyguards battled the rebels; in the conflict, Gaddafi suffered head injuries from a grenade blast while Jabr was killed.

A video appears to picture Gaddafi being poked or stabbed in the anus "with some kind of stick or knife" [ ] or possibly a bayonet. His semi-naked body was then placed into an ambulance and taken to Misrata ; upon arrival, he was found to be dead. Other eye-witness accounts claimed that rebels had fatally shot Gaddafi in the stomach.

We call it the Third [International] Theory to indicate that there is a new path for all those who reject both materialist capitalism and atheist communism. The path is for all the people of the world who abhor the dangerous confrontation between the Warsaw and North Atlantic military alliances. It is for all those who believe that all nations of the world are brothers under the aegis of the rule of God.

Gaddafi's ideological worldview was molded by his environment, namely his Islamic faith, his Bedouin upbringing, and his disgust at the actions of Italian colonialists in Libya. The Libyan studies specialist Ronald Bruce St. John regarded Arab nationalism as Gaddafi's "primordial value", [ ] stating that during the early years of his government, Gaddafi was "the Arab nationalist par excellence".

Along with Arab nationalism, anti-imperialism was also a defining feature of Gaddafi's regime during its early years. He believed in opposing Western imperialism and colonialism in the Arab world, including any Western expansionism through the form of Israel. He believed that the state of Israel should not exist and that any Arab compromise with the Israeli government was a betrayal of the Arab people.

Gaddafi rejected the secularist approach to Arab nationalism that had been pervasive in Syria, [ ] with his revolutionary movement placing a far stronger emphasis on Islam than previous Arab nationalist movements had done. Many criticized his attempts to encourage women to enter traditionally male-only sectors of society, such as the armed forces.

Gaddafi was keen to improve women's status, although saw the sexes as "separate but equal" and therefore felt women should usually remain in traditional roles. The purpose of the socialist society is the happiness of man, which can only be realized through material and spiritual freedom. Attainment of such freedom depends on the extent of man's ownership of his needs; ownership that is personal and sacredly guaranteed, i.

Gaddafi described his approach to economics as "Islamic socialism". Bearman suggested that while Libya did undergo "a profound social revolution", he did not think that "a socialist society" was established in Libya. John expressed the muammar muhammad al-gaddafi biography for kids that "if socialism is defined as a redistribution of wealth and resources, a socialist revolution clearly occurred in Libya" under Gaddafi's regime.

Gaddafi was staunchly anti-Marxist[ ] and in declared that "it is the duty of every Muslim to combat" Marxism because it promotes atheism. A very private individual, [ ] Gaddafi was given to rumination and solitude and could be reclusive. Gaddafi regarded personal appearance as important, [ ] with Blundy and Lycett referring to him as "extraordinarily vain.

I wear a certain shirt and suddenly everyone is wearing it. He was preoccupied with his own security, regularly changing where he slept and sometimes grounding all other planes in Libya when he was flying. During his trips to Rome, Paris, Madrid, Moscow, and New York City, [ ] [ ] he resided in a bulletproof tent, following his Bedouin traditions.

In the s and s, there were reports of his making sexual advances toward female reporters and members of his entourage.

Muammar muhammad al-gaddafi biography for kids: Muammar al-Qaddafi (born , near Sirte,

Gaddafi married his first wife, Fatiha al-Nuri, in Although they had one son, Muhammad Gaddafi borntheir relationship was strained, and they divorced in He also adopted two children, Hana Gaddafi and Milad Gaddafi. According to Vandewalle, Gaddafi "dominated [Libya's] political life" during his period in power. Hinnebusch described the Libyan as "perhaps the most exemplary contemporary case of the politics of charismatic leadership", displaying all of the traits of charismatic authority outlined by the sociologist Max Weber.

A cult of personality devoted to Gaddafi existed in Libya through most of his rule. Several biographers and observers characterized Gaddafi as a populist. Described as "spontaneous demonstrations" by the government, there are recorded instances of groups being coerced or paid to attend. Supporters praised Gaddafi's administration for the creation of a more equal society through domestic reform.

Gaddafi's government's treatment of non-Arab Libyans came in for criticism from human rights activists, with native Berbers, Italian colonists, Jews, refugees, and foreign workers all facing persecution in Gaddafist Libya. International reactions to Gaddafi's death were divided. Following his defeat in the civil war, Gaddafi's system of governance was dismantled and replaced by the interim government of the NTC, which legalized trade unions and freedom of the press.

Due to the lack of standardization of transcribing written and regionally pronounced Arabic, Gaddafi's name has been romanized in various ways. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read View source View history.

Muammar muhammad al-gaddafi biography for kids: Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi was

Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Leader of Libya from to For other people with the name, see Gaddafi name. Brotherly Leader Colonel. See list. As Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council. Arab Socialist Union — Independent — Fathia Nuri. Safia Farkash. Sons 8. Daughters 2. University of Libya dropped out. This article is part of a series about.

Libya under Muammar Gaddafi. Military Armed Forces. Leadership History. Elections and referendums. Education and political activism: — Military training: — Further information: History of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi. Consolidating leadership: — Economic and social reform. Further information: Foreign relations of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi.

The "Popular Revolution": — Revolutionary Committees and furthering socialism: — John [ ]. Conflict with the US and its allies: — Pan-Africanism, reconciliation and privatization: — Links with Africa and conflicts in the Arab League. Rebuilding links with the West. Libyan Civil War and death. Main article: Libyan Civil War Further information: military intervention in Libya.

Origins and development: February—August Main article: Third International Theory. Creative Commons via Wikimedia Commons. There was no significant popular resistance among the people of Libya to the new regime, but Gaddafi thought it necessary to mitigate all political crises and challenges that the representatives of the old regime could possibly pose.

Therefore, the consolidation of administrative power and persecution of former government representatives went hand in hand. Gaddafi believed that representative democracy as a model of government was inadequate and he thus formed a Jamahariya that Gaddafi claimed was a system of government and supreme form of democracy, in which the people themselves were the president.

In Jamahiriya, Gaddafi argued, the masses possessed more power than they could have under representative or western democracy 3. The system he introduced was inherently contradictory, as the way he himself rose to the power was questioned by many. Gaddafi with Egyptian President Nasser in He became a colonel. Gaddafi became head of state of Libya after removing King Idris from power in a bloodless coup.

He ruled Libya from September 1, to August 23, After the coup, Gaddafi established the Libyan Arab Republic. He published a book about his philosophical views in This book is commonly known as The Green Book. Inhe left the power of Libya, and continued playing role of revolutionary. People called him the "Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution".

In the s, he made chemical weapons, because of it critics called Libya a pariah state. It also claims that his assets are scattered throughout much of Europe, [ 12 ] Despite no trace or proof for even 1 billion have been found. The bombing was condemned by many nations and also by UN. Inthe United Nations put economic sanctions onto Libya.

Gaddafi started to have closer economic and security relations with the West. He cooperated with investigations into alleged Libyan anti-western acts, by he offered to dismantle weapon of mass destruction of Libya, which would be inspected in As a result, the UN sanctions were lifted in the same year. Gaddafi was elected Chairperson of the African Union in In February there were major violent protests against Libyan government.

These came alongside other demonstrations in TunisiaEgyptand other parts of the Arab world. The protests quickly turned into a civil war. Gaddafi vowed to "die a martyr " if necessary in his fight against rebels and external forces; he also said that "peaceful protest is one thing but armed rebellion is another.