LIBYA COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT BACKGROUND AND SECURITY SITUATION COI Service 25 July 2011 LIBYA 25 JULY 2011 Contents Preface Latest News EVENTS IN LIBYA FROM 15 JULY 2011 TO 20 JULY 2011 Useful news sources for further information Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Map ........................................................................................................................ 1.07 Geographic and tribal issues .............................................................................. 1.10 The east ................................................................................................................. 1.11 Islamism ............................................................................................................. 1.11 State policy towards the east ............................................................................. 1.12 Transport ............................................................................................................... 1.13 Roads ................................................................................................................. 1.13 Railways ............................................................................................................. 1.14 International and internal airports and flight routes ............................................ 1.15 Sea ports ............................................................................................................ 1.17 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 3. HISTORY .................................................................................................................. 3.01 Early History to 1911 ............................................................................................ 3.01 Italian occupation to the peace treaty of 1947 .................................................. 3.02 1949 under King Idris until the military coup of September 1969 .................... 3.03 1 September 1969 - 2011 Libya under Colonel Muammar al Qadhafi [aka Gaddafi] ‘Leader of the Revolution’ (de facto head of state) ........................... 3.04 The Green Book ................................................................................................. 3.06 The Men of the Tent ........................................................................................... 3.07 The Rise to prominence of Seif al-Islam Gaddafi ............................................... 3.08 4. CONSTITUTION .......................................................................................................... 4.01 5. POLITICAL SYSTEM ................................................................................................... 5.01 Before the February 2011 uprising ..................................................................... 5.01 General People‘s Committee ............................................................................. 5.02 The 1977 declaration on the establishment of the authority of the people ......... 5.03 Political parties ................................................................................................... 5.04 Human Rights 6. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 6.01 Before the February 2011 uprising ..................................................................... 6.01 Since the February 2011 uprising ....................................................................... 6.03 7. SECURITY SITUATION – ANTI GADDAFI UPRISING .......................................................... 7.01 UN resolution 1973 (2011) .................................................................................... 7.05 NATO airstrikes .................................................................................................... 7.06 Rebel fighters ....................................................................................................... 7.07 National Liberation Army .................................................................................... 7.09 Defectors ............................................................................................................ 7.10 ii The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 14 July 2011. Further brief information on recent events and reports has been provided in the Latest News section to 20 July 2011. 25 JULY 2011 LIBYA War crimes ............................................................................................................ 7.11 8. INTERIM ADMINISTRATION .......................................................................................... 8.01 National Transitional Council .......................................................................... 8.01 Arbitrary arrest and detention by opposition forces..................................... 8.08 Interim judicial system ..................................................................................... 8.10 Detention conditions ........................................................................................... 8.11 Volunteer security services ............................................................................. 8.12 9. AREAS OF CONFLICT ................................................................................................. 9.01 West ....................................................................................................................... 9.04 Nafusa mountains .............................................................................................. 9.04 Tunisian/Libyan border ....................................................................................... 9.09 Misrata ............................................................................................................... 9.11 Airport ............................................................................................................ 9.18 Zlitan .................................................................................................................. 9.19 Tripoli ................................................................................................................. 9.20 Civilian casualties following NATO airstrike ................................................... 9.23 Tripoli International Airport ............................................................................. 9.24 Yafran ................................................................................................................. 9.26 Zawiyah .............................................................................................................. 9.27 East ........................................................................................................................ 9.28 Benghazi ............................................................................................................ 9.29 Benina International Airport, Benghazi ........................................................... 9.33 Brega .................................................................................................................. 9.34 Across Libya – attempts to create stability and safe areas .............................. 9.35 10. LIBYANS LIVING ABROAD ........................................................................................... 10.01 Government sponsored students in the UK ...................................................... 10.02 Libyans living abroad blamed for uprising ........................................................ 10.05 Protests outside the Libyan embassy in London .............................................. 10.10 11. SECURITY FORCES .................................................................................................... 11.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 11.01 Under Colonel Gaddafi ......................................................................................... 11.02 National Security Commission ............................................................................ 11.04 Police ..................................................................................................................... 11.06 Armed forces ........................................................................................................ 11.08 The Army ............................................................................................................ 11.08 People‘s Militia ................................................................................................... 11.10 The Air force ....................................................................................................... 11.11 The Navy ............................................................................................................ 11.13 Other government forces ..................................................................................... 11.15 Revolutionary Guards Corps .............................................................................. 11.15 The Green Nuns or Amazonian Guard ............................................................... 11.16 The Jamahiriya Security Organisation...............................................................