Libya’s former leader Mu’ammar Qadhafi has been killed. The dictator who held power for 42 years in Libya died on October 20 during an assault on Surt, his hometown. Surt, the last holdout to Libya’s new interim government, subsequently fell to the forces of the National Transitional Council (NTC). “Our forces control the last neighborhood in Surt,” announced NTC member Hassan Draoua, speaking to the Associated Press in Tripoli. “The city has been liberated.”

Mu'ammar Muhammad al-Qadhafi. Copyright Rosy Rouleau, Sygma

Qadhafi’s downfall is part of the so-called Arab Spring movement, popular uprising in several Arab countries that have toppled governments in Tunisia, Egypt, as well as Libya.

Additional World Book article:

Back in Time (Libya 1986)

A raging battle between Libyan rebels and troops loyal to Libyan leader  Mu’ammar Qadhafi ended with the fall to rebel forces of the Qadhafi’s compound in Tripoli, the capital. Pockets of resistance remained, however. Fierce fighting was still going on in isolated areas of Tripoli and in the border city of Zuwarah, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) to the west. NATO spokesperson Roland Lavoie, speaking at a news conference in Naples, Italy,  noted, “Our mission is not over yet. . . . The situation in Tripoli is still very serious and very dangerous.” He added that neither NATO nor Libyan rebel forces knew Qadhafi’s whereabouts.

Libyan rebels launched their assault on Tripoli in the night on August 21 and advanced into the heart of the city with little opposition. They quickly took command of Green Square, the symbol of Libyan leader Mu’ammar Qadhafi’s power, and renamed it Martyr’s Square. Jubilant rebel supporters tore down Qadhafi’s all green flags and defaced and trampled his portraits, heralding an end to his nearly 42-year rule. On August 22,  rebel commanders claimed to have taken control of about 80 percent of the capital. However, they remained engaged in a raging battle outside Qadhafi’s compound, fighting against a tank corp defending the walled enclave (an area existing apart from a larger surrounding area).

On the diplomatic front, President Barack Obama of the United States issued a statement on August 21 noting that Qadhafi “needs to acknowledge the reality that he no longer controls Libya.” British Prime Minister David Cameron stated that Qadhafi has “committed appalling crimes against the people of Libya and he must go now to avoid any further suffering for his own people.” In Cairo, the government of Egypt recognized the rebels as the legitimate government of Libya on August 22. At the United Nations in New York City, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon announced that he was organizing a meeting with members of the African Union and the Arab League to help smooth the transition to a new government.

President Barack Obama of the United States issued a statement today calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to leave office, and Obama froze all Syrian assets within U.S. jurisdiction. In a joint statement, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and British Prime Minister David Cameron also called on Assad to “step aside in the best interests of Syria and the unity of its people.” They asserted that Assad has “lost all legitimacy and can no longer claim to lead the country.” In Geneva, Switzerland, a United Nations (UN) human rights panel labeled the violent crackdown being waged against pro-democracy protesters in Syria a “crime against humanity.” The panel recommended that the UN Security Council refer Assad to the International Criminal Court for prosecution of alleged crimes.

The Syrian navy continues to shell the Syrian port of Latakia despite calls from Turkey and other Middle Eastern nations to halt the offensive. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began the assault on August 14 in response to massive antigovernment demonstrations in the city. His government claims that its forces are attempting to round up armed gangs that moved into Latakia to rob and terrorize the residents. The assault is the latest in a brutal crackdown attempting to end a five-month-old uprising against the Assad regime.

On August 15, the government of Turkey demanded that Assad withdraw his military from Latakia or face an unspecified reaction. Days earlier, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria and recalled his ambassador from Syria’s capital, Damascus.

The uprising in Syria is part of what international affairs experts call “the Arab spring.” Similar popular uprisings in  Tunisia  and  Egypt  brought down long-standing governments earlier this year. Activists continue to battle oppressive governments in Libya and Yemen.

Additional World Book articles:

• Mubarak, Hosni
• Qadhafi, Mu`ammar al-

The United Nations is moving 26 nonessential staff members and their families from Syria due to the turmoil and violence there. The Syrian navy continues to shell the Syrian port of Latakia despite calls from Turkey and other Middle Eastern nations to halt the offensive. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began the assault on August 14 in response to massive antigovernment demonstrations in the city. His government claims that its forces are attempting to round up armed gangs that moved into Latakia to rob and terrorize the residents. The assault is the latest in a brutal crackdown attempting to end a five-month-old uprising against the Assad regime.

On August 15, the government of Turkey demanded that Assad withdraw his military from Latakia or face an unspecified reaction. Days earlier, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria and recalled his ambassador from Syria’s capital, Damascus.

The uprising in Syria is part of what international affairs experts call “the Arab spring.” Similar popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt brought down long-standing governments earlier this year. Activists continue to battle oppressive governments in Libya and Yemen.

Additional World Book articles:

• Mubarak, Hosni
• Qadhafi, Mu`ammar al-