Muammar Gaddafi from conspirator to deposed king

 Reuters reports that former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was mortally wounded early morning Thursday as he fled Sirte in a car. The motorcade was attacked by NATO air forces as it head west. This RIA Novosti image gallery shows the ascent of the Bedouin tribesman to “king of the kings” and his deposition.

 Death found the Libyan leader in the town where he was born. At least, Gaddafi himself on many occasions mentioned that he was born in the spring of 1942 in a Bedouin tent 30 km to the south of Sirte. In 1969, Gaddafi was appointed an adjunct of the Signal Corps and led a coup in the Libyan armed forces

 On September 1, 1969, rebels led by Captain Gaddafi captured the royal palace, government buildings, radio and television stations. They deposed King Idris and Gaddafi proclaimed the Libyan Republic. Photo: Muammar Gaddafi, September 27, 1969.

 On September 1, 1969, rebels led by Captain Gaddafi captured the royal palace, government buildings, radio and television stations. They deposed King Idris and Gaddafi proclaimed the Libyan Republic. Photo: Muammar Gaddafi, September 27, 1969.

 In September 1969, Gaddafi became chairman of the Libyan Revolutionary Command Council and commander in chief. Since then, he has been the de facto leader of the country occupying several positions. Photo: Chairman of the Libyan Revolutionary Command Council and commander in chief Muammar Gaddafi speaks at a meeting dedicated to the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution.

 After the revolution, Gaddafi was promoted to colonel, retaining the rank even after he was promoted to major general in January 1976.

 Gaddafi established a regime based on people’s committees and assemblies, and proclaimed “the people’s republic” in March 1977. In 1979, Gaddafi stepped down as president of Libya, announcing his decision to work on “continued revolution,” although he remained the key political figure in the country.

 Gaddafi advanced the idea of “separating revolution from power.” Gaddafi retained the position of the commander in chief while simultaneously acting as general secretary of the General People’s Congress.

 By the late 1980s, Gaddafi had stepped down from all official positions and called himself a revolutionary leader. However, he remained the de facto head of the nation.

 Gaddafi’s ideology was significantly influenced by the Soviet Union. He visited the Soviet Union on three occasions (in 1976, 1981 and 1985) and met with the Soviet leaders Leonid Brezhnev and Mikhail Gorbachev.

 Gaddafi led the unpretentious life of an ascetic. At some point, he became a vegetarian. He didn’t drink coffee, tea or alcohol, didn’t smoke and ate simple meals. His family doesn’t own any real estate. Even his father (the son insisted) lived in a Bedouin tent until the end of his life.

 Mass rallies broke out in Libya in mid-February, with protesters demanding Gaddafi’s ouster after 40 years in power. The rallies eventually escalated into an armed face-off between government forces and the opposition.

After almost nine months of fighting, the rebels managed to assume control over almost all of Libya. Some of his family members fled to Algeria. Abdelhakim Belhaj, military head of the National Transitional Council of Libya, said Gaddafi had been staying in Sirte. 

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