History of Gaddafi
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is the longest-serving leader in Africa and in the Arab world.
Gaddafi
He has led Libya since the overthrow of King Idris I, in a bloodless coup, at the age of 27.
Famous for the clothes she likes to wear, and the armed women guards, the Libyan leader is also thought to have good political tactics, for being able to repatriate Libya from the diplomatic isolation in the world.
After two decades of isolation in the international community, in 2003, Tripoli admitted to carrying out the Lockerbie attack by bombing Pam Am's plane and then the United Nations lifted sanctions against Libya.
Gaddafi in 1969
Several months later, Colonel Gaddafi's government suspended its plans to create weapons of mass destruction and this restored international cooperation.
It was then that real change became apparent as those western countries changed their mind and stopped isolating Gaddafi and collaborating with him even though he was unpredictable.
He is a unique person in his statements, dynamics, behavior and strategies, according to Libyan political scientist Saas Djebbar.
'But he is a prominent politician; there is no doubt about it. He is a politician who can withstand the political turmoil at the highest level. '
The Origin of the Wandering
Muammar Gaddafi was born in the desert near Sirte in 1942.
Gaddafi at the Sirte conference
As a young man he was attracted to the patriotic Egyptian leader and, Gamal Abdel Nasser, as he took part in protests against Israel during the Suez uprising in 1956.
Gaddafi plotted to overthrow the monarchy when he was a military student and had received further training in Britain before returning home to Libya, the city of Benghazi, and planning a coup dated September 1, 1969.
Gaddafi began to formulate his political ideologies in 1970 and write them in his green book.
Gaddafi was visiting Senegal in 1985
He used his book to establish a political system consisting of Islamic principles and a system different from the politics of socialism or capitalism.
In 1977 he established a system known as the 'Jamahiriya' or 'National Nation' in which citizens run the leadership of their country through 'public committees'.
Gaddafi's tent
Gaddafi's system has crossed borders and involved not only political issues, but also other issues.
While traveling overseas, he stays in a camp built by his magnificent Bedouin tent accompanied by female guards who, it is said, do not lose their focus on the job as male guards.
The tent is also used to welcome Libyan visitors and Colonel Gaddafi conducts his meetings and interviews in the air waving a sledgehammer or palm branch.
You are alone
Benjamin Barber, an independent political analyst from the United States, has met with Gaddafi several times recently and talked to him about Libya's future.
Gaddafi with other Arab leaders
Mr Barber said Muammar Gaddafi considered himself an expert scholar.
Muammar Gaddafi and Tony Blair hosted a meeting of international leaders on May 29, 2007 at the Bedouin tent.
"You will be amazed that even though he is a dictator, he is a philosopher and a thinker before speaking," he told the BBC.
"I highly regard him as a man from the Berber tribe and a man who emerged from the desert culture, from the sand and in some ways there is a great difference from modern leadership, and in some way that has made him tolerant and resilient."
Colonel Gaddafi has long struggled to exert his influence at home and abroad.
He first sent his army to Chad where troops took control of the Aozou region, in the north of the country, in 1973.
In the 80's he organized training for rebel groups from West Africa including the Tuareg who are Berber.
He recently spearheaded efforts to reconcile Tuareg rebels from Niger and Mali.
'Crazy dog'
The diplomatic corps of secessionist Libya was based on Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's support for armed groups, including the Irish Republican Army and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Gaddafi with a BBC correspondent
Former US President Ronald Reagan called Gaddafi a 'mad dog' and the United States retaliated against Libya for alleged involvement in airstrikes in Europe by invading the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi in 1986.
It was reported that Colonel Gaddafi was shaken by the bombings in which his teenage daughter was killed.
When he failed in his efforts to reconcile the Arab world in the 90's, Col Gaddafi turned his attention to Africa and proposed a 'Union of Nations' on the African continent.
Gaddafi nurse
He began to wear his own clothing, sports uniforms with African shields, or portraits of officials from the continent.
During the revolution in the 20th century, while Libya was suffering from sanctions against the country, he began to rectify the situation in his country.
In 2003, a change began to take place and five years later the Lockerbire compensation agreement was reached and this restored relations between Washington and Libya.
"There will be no more wars, attacks, and acts of terrorism," Col Gaddafi said as he celebrated his 39th year in office.
Internal challenges
The Libyan leader sees himself as the nation's religious leader, affirming what he says is democracy.
Recent Libyan protesters
But in reality, critics say Colonel Gaddafi has succeeded in controlling the country.
Opponents have been brutally oppressed and the media remains under intense government control.
Libya has laws that do not allow people to assemble on political grounds that oppose Colonel Gaddafi's coup.
Human Rights Watch said the government had arrested hundreds of civilians for violating the law and sentenced some to death.
It has been reported that there have been incidents of torture and even disappearances
It is thought that Colonel Gaddafi is preparing to hand over power because of his age but it is unknown who will succeed the Libyan leadership from Gaddafi.
Sayf with his brother Saad
There is a feeling that his son Sayf Al-Islam Gaddafi is the one who will inherit the leadership from his father and is leading the way in bringing about change.
Although Sayf has announced his retirement from politics, there are those who feel that this is a tactic to increase his political influence.
Meanwhile, Gaddafi has promised that the country's ministries will be scrapped along with their budgets
The wealth gained from oil will be handed over directly to the people.
Despite the Libyan economy providing opportunities for foreign investors, change is still moving slowly.
Protesters seize a picture of Gaddafi
Many Libyans are concerned about the changes and feel they are not benefiting from Libya's resources, observers say as government services are poor as well as massive embezzlement.
"They are very cautious in this struggle because they do not want change that will weaken public power," said Saad Djebbar.
'But at the same time, Libyans are aware that they need to make changes. And that's why they go so slowly.
