Libya Today: One Year after the Uprising

A riot in Benghazi on February 15, 2011 was triggered by the arrest of human rights activist Fethi Tarbel, who had been working to free Libya's political prisoners. 

 

Anti-government protests carried on in the eastern city, with a "day of rage" called on February 17th. 

 

In the capital Tripoli pro-government rallies were held, as Gaddafi vowed to clamp down on the protests. 

 

A bloody civil war raged for months with the United Nations Security Council imposing a no-fly zone on the country and "all necessary measures" -- code for military action -- to protect civilians against Gaddafi's army.  

 

By August 21, days of battlefield defeats left Gaddafi's government and troops penned ever more tightly in the besieged capital.

 

National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters were able to enter the capital with little sign of resistance, despite a call by Gaddafi for citizens to take up arms and save his 41-year-old regime from annihilation. 

 

Gaddafi himself escaped to his hometown, Sirte.

 

NTC forces captured and killed Gaddafi and his son Mo'tassim several weeks later as they were tyring to flee to the south of the country.

 

Another of Gaddafi's sons, Saif al-Islam, was captured alive near the border with Niger on November 19.

 

Libya's new government has vowed to give him a fair trial after criticism over events that led to the death of Muammar Gaddafi.

            

Libya last week published its final draft of the country's election law, which will reserve two fifths of the seats for political parties, groups that were banned under Gaddafi's rule.      

 

Dozens of new parties have sprung up offering a vibrant mix of democratic, Islamist, free market and nationalist agendas and providing an alternative to established political movements like the Muslim Brotherhood.

 

But the electoral picture has been clouded by widespread insecurity, with the interim government appointed in November struggling to impose its authority on a myriad of armed groups.