Leader Muammar Gaddafi

Head of state: Col Mu'ammar Gaddafi

Mu'ammar Gaddafi was born in the desert near Sirte in 1942. He overthrew the monarchy in 1969 and launched a cultural revolution to remove traces of imported ideology. He has supported a broad range of militant groups including the IRA and the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Alleged Libyan involvement in attacks in Europe in 1986 led to US military strikes against Tripoli. For several decades Gaddafi tried to portray himself as leader of the Arab world, and has now taken up the mission of uniting Africa.

Country Profile: Libya

Libya has been isolated by much of the international community for many years for its alleged connection with the bombing of a PanAm plane over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988.

However, UN sanctions, imposed to force Libya to cooperate with investigators, eased when two Libyans were handed over for trial in connection with the bombing.

EGYPT FACTS
Population: 5.5 million (UN, 2003)
Capital: Tripoli
Major language: Arabic
Major religion:Islam
Life expectancy: 71 years (men), 75 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams
Main exports: Crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas
Annual average income: n/a
Internet domain:.ly
International dialling code: +218