Libya

Libya, a petroleum-rich Arab nation located in North Africa, is Africa's fourth largest country. Libya gained independence in 1951 as the United Kingdom of Libya. In 1969, Col. Muammar al-Qaddafi led a military coup that ended the monarchy and proclaimed the Libyan Arab Republic. In 1977 its name was changed to the Popular Socialist Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The Mediterranean Sea lies to the north, Egypt and Sudan to the east, Tunisia and Algeria to the west, and Chad and Niger to the south. Tripoli, on the Mediterranean coast, is the capital. The articles below provide information about Libya.