Libya |
|
| OVERVIEW |
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| Background |
Since he took
power in a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI
has espoused his own political system - a combination of socialism
and Islam - which he calls the Third International Theory.
Viewing himself as a revolutionary leader, he used oil funds
during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside
Libya, even supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to
hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. Libyan military
adventures failed, e.g., the prolonged foray of Libyan troops
into the Aozou Strip in northern Chad was finally repulsed
in 1987. Libyan support for terrorism decreased after UN sanctions
were imposed in 1992. Those sanctions were suspended in April
1999. |
| Natural
resources |
petroleum, natural gas,
gypsum |
| Land
use |
arable land: 1.03%
permanent crops: 0.17%
other: 98.8% (1998 est.) |
| Population |
5,499,074
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2003 est.) |
| Ethnic
groups |
Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks,
Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians,
Tunisians |
| Religions |
Sunni Muslim 97% |
| Languages |
Arabic, Italian, English,
all are widely understood in the major cities |
| Literacy |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.) |
| Capital |
Tripoli |
| Government
type |
Jamahiriya (a state of
the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local
councils; in fact, a military dictatorship |
| Independence |
24 December 1951 (from
Italy) |
| National
holiday |
Revolution Day, 1 September
(1969) |
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