Gaddafi clung on till gory end

Dubai: Buoyed by successful revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, Libyans, who suffered under the oppressive rule and the iron grip of now dead dictator Muammar Gaddafi for over 40 years, took to the streets of Benghazi seeking the release of a human rights activist Fethi Tarbel on February 16. That was the beginning of the revolution which saw the dictator's end eight months later.

Like the other uprisings in the region, police and the army used brutal force against protesters. But protests grew with the mostly unemployed youth at the forefront. After deadly battles in the city, the protesters took the Libyan Army base.

As the killings continued, the UN security council imposed sanctions on Gaddafi and his family. With growing defections in the army, the dictator hired thousands of sub-Saharan African mercenaries to crush the rebellion. The regime also deployed jet fighters and helicopter gunships to massacre the protesters in Benghazi.

Mass defections

The early stage of revolution was marked by mass defections from Gaddafi's inner circle. In one instance two LAF Jets flew to Malta, and ambassadors and diplomatic corps in some countries defected and pledged their support to revolutionaries. Following the Benghazi victory, protesters took control of major eastern cities.

As east Libya was liberated, protests spread to Misrata and Tripoli itself, Libya's capital and Gaddafi's stronghold.

Meanwhile, the revolutionary National Transitional Council (NTC) in Benghazi declared itself Libya's sole representative and the UN security council authorised a no-fly zone over Libya and military action to protect civilians against Gaddafi's army.

A Nato missile attack on a house in Tripoli in April killed Gaddafi's youngest son and three grandchildren. In June the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Saif Al Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah Al Senussi on charges of crimes against humanity.

Fighting raged on in Sirte, Sabah, Zawiya and Brega. These cities change hands on several occasions.

Capital taken

On August 21, revolutionaries entered Tripoli with little resistance.

Gaddafi, defiant as ever, made audio addresses over state television calling on Libyans to fight off the revolutionary "rats". In late August, Gaddafi's wife, his daughter Aisha and two of his sons enter Algeria. Aisha Gaddafi gives birth in a clinic in a border town hours after crossing the frontier.

On October 12, government fighters capture Gaddafi's son Mutassim after he tried to escape Sirte and on October 20, Gaddafi is captured and killed.

And on October 23, Libya declares the liberation of the nation.

On October 31, Abdul Rahim Al Keeb is elected as interim prime minister.

On November 19, Saif Al Islam is detained with several bodyguards near the town of Obari by fighters based in the western mountain town of Zintan.

The International Criminal Court agrees Saif's trial can be held in Libya.