From his 1969 coup to pan-Arabism, war with Chad, terrorism in the 1980s, later detente, and finally his downfall in the revolution that began this February
Muammar al Qaddafi, autocratic strongman of Libya, was killed during his capture by Libyan rebels this morning. He ruled Libya from 1969, when he rose to power in a military coup, until this spring, when he was overthrown by a popular uprising. His 42-year rule as the "King of Kings" was marked by suppression, warfare, and eccentricities. The International Criminal Court issued a warrant in June 2011 for Qaddafi and his son Saif al-Islam for their crimes against humanity during their fight to retain power this spring.
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