On October 20, , the First Continental Congress creates the Continental Association, which calls for a complete ban on all trade between America and Great Britain of all goods, wares or merchandise.
The creation of the association was in response to the Coercive Acts—or Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. World War II. Art, Literature, and Film History.
Red Scare. US Government. Sign Up. Westward Expansion. American Revolution. This was followed by a decade of isolation by the West after the Lockerbie bombing. For Libyans critical of Col Gaddafi his greatest crime may have been the squandering of wealth on foreign adventures and corruption. Most Libyans do not feel this wealth and living conditions can be reminiscent of far poorer countries. Libya's particular form of socialism does provide free education, healthcare and subsidised housing and transport, but wages are extremely low and the wealth of the state and profits from foreign investments have only benefited a narrow elite.
In , the Libyan leader made a comeback from almost total international isolation when he accepted the blame for the Lockerbie bombing. Following 11 September , he signed up to the US government's so-called "war on terror". Soon after the US invasion of Iraq in , Libya announced that it was abandoning its nuclear and biological weapons programmes.
Both of these were seen by his critics as highly cynical moves. In the final years of his rule, as questions of succession arose, two of his sons seemed to be in open and damaging competition against each other for his favour. The next month, Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak was forced out, providing a morale boost to protesters in several Arab capitals.
Despite the atmosphere of severe repression, demonstrations broke out in the city of Benghazi and spread throughout Libya.
Qaddafi used aggressive force to try to suppress the protests, and the violence quickly escalated. Police and foreign mercenaries were brought in to shoot at protesters, and helicopters were sent to bombard citizens from the air.
As casualties mounted, Libyans grew more determined to see Qaddafi's ouster. As violence spread through the country, Qaddafi made several rambling speeches on state television, claiming the demonstrators were traitors, foreigners, al-Qaeda and drug addicts.
He urged his supporters to continue the fight, and small groups of heavily armed loyalists battled against the rebels. By the end of February , the opposition had gained control over much of the country, and the rebels formed a governing body called the National Transitional Council. The opposition surrounded Tripoli, where Qaddafi still had some support. Most of the international community expressed support for the NTC and called for the ouster of Qaddafi.
At the end of March, a NATO coalition began to provide support for the rebel forces in the form of airstrikes and a no-fly zone. NATO's military intervention over the next six months proved to be decisive. When Tripoli fell to rebel forces in late August, it was seen as a major victory for the opposition and a symbolic end for Qaddafi's rule. In June , the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of Qaddafi, his son Seif al-Islam, and his brother-in-law for crimes against humanity.
Qaddafi had lost control of Libya, but his whereabouts were still unknown. On October 20, , Libyan officials announced that Qaddafi had died near his hometown of Sirte, Libya. Early reports had conflicting accounts of his death, with some stating that he had been killed in a gun battle and others claiming that he had been targeted by a NATO aerial attack.
Video circulated of Qaddafi's bloodied body being dragged around by fighters. For months, Qaddafi and his family had been at large, believed to be hiding in the western part of the country where they still had small pockets of support.
As news of the former dictator's death spread, Libyans poured into the streets, celebrating the what many hailed as the culmination of their revolution. Post Qaddafi, Libya has continued to be embroiled in violence. With state authority eventually being held by the General National Congress, various militia groups have vied for power.
Dozens of political figures and activists in Benghazi have been killed, with many having to leave the area. The country has also seen a succession of interim prime ministers. Residents of Bani Walid, a stronghold of the Warfala tribe -- the country's biggest and a key pillar of Gaddafi's rule -- had backed him to the bitter end. Many fighters from the town were killed, with more dying in further battles when rival militia groups attacked.
Today, dusty wind whips through the town centre, where a decommissioned tank overlooks a dried-up fountain and a board bearing pictures of "martyrs" hangs above a pile of mortar shells. Bani Walid lies in an oasis some kilometres miles southeast of Libya's capital Tripoli. The red, black and green flag of the pre-Gaddafi years, adopted again by rebels in , is nowhere to be seen. Since then we've seen 10 years of injustice, bombing, killing and kidnapping," said Mohammad Abi Hamra, who wore a wristwatch bearing Gaddafi's face.
0コメント