Sunset                                  

Behind the infamy they've endured since their revolution in 1969,  Libyans have proved themselves a resilient people.

Today they celebrate the twenty fifth anniversary of one of the most controversial characters in the world.

Whilst much has changed since Qadhafi emerged as the leader of the revolution a quarter of a century ago, the world's attitude towards him and his country has only worsened. 

Today Libya and its people face broader and more stringent international sanctions than ever before. 

People wait for ship            

Four times a week thousands of Libyans and ex-patriots endure a six hour queue under the North African sun as they wait for the ferry to Malta.

 The UN sanctions imposed two years ago  mean that the sea journey from Tripoli is the most efficient method of travel abroad. Such restrictions raise more than tempers, inflation grows and the economy suffers.

Driving & Streets                 

Although always accompanied by government     minders, the visitor finds plenty of surprising aspects to Qadhafi's Libya.

Oil revenues have made this country and its people more prosperous than their north African             neighbours.  Satellite dishes abound,  the American station CNN has tens of thousands of Libyan viewers. 

Estates                                 

Widespread home ownership is a principle of the state that appears to be put into practice.  Landlords are illegal so Libyans are encouraged to buy their own homes by paying subsidised monthly mortgages. 

In this housing project 20 kilometres outside Tripoli, people live in conditions that would be the envy of any country in the Arab world.  

The young families who live here have much to be thankful for and they ascribe their good fortune to the revolution and their leader. 

Int: Nassir Khalifa

TRANSLATION (ARABIC):

"Previously a young man like me would not be able

to marry and have a house like us now. Life was so

difficult.  My father suffered a lot from being a worker

on wages and paying rent . Now everything is available.

Life has changed in every aspect".

Qadhafi wrote down his political formula in what every Libyan knows as the Green Book.  Unusually for this part of the world Qadhafi Green book demands equality for women.

Int:: Leila Aladed

TRANSLATION (ARABIC)

"The Green Book gave women a big role.  previously

they were just objects.  the Green Book gave women

 their rights.  they can build, carry guns, fly a plane

drive a car or join the army. In all fields they are treated

equally with men".

Despite at least three coup attempts and a number of failed assassination bids Qadhafi the idealistic leader of four and a half million still has support from many Libyans.

Green book                         

The  Green Book is Qadhafi's bible. In it he calls for a strict socialist system of rule and lays out a plan for a society where everyone is equal.

Bombed house                  

Qadhafi's support for violent movements around the world provoked the United States Air force in 1986 to bomb Qadhafi's home. It was in revenge for a terrorist attack in Germany which it now appears, the Libyans may have had nothing to do with. Nevertheless the Green book clearly outlines Qadhafi's enthusiasm for such movements.

Qadhafi's Office                 

Today the ruin is kept as a memorial to those who died.

Child's Bedroom               

Amongst the dead, her bedroom preserved in her   memory, Qadhafi one and a half year old daughter, Hannah.

Sync Habib                         

‘We left it like this so people can witness what the Americans did - their vandalism and terrorism. Just look what they did. It was April 1986. The very  Americans who speak of humanity and of democracy but these are the result of what they really do.'

Foreign Ministry                

Today Libya's foreign ministry has toned down Qadhafi's sponsorship of the world's radical young fighters.

Int. Saad Mejber

Secretary for Foreign Affairs

‘We are making the decisions and we are making the mistakes too. And we have nobody to blame except ourselves. What is the role of Colonel Qadhafi then? I think he has a very serious problem. He is an idealist in a world which is everything except ideal. He wanted the people, especially the poor people, the people who used to walk bare footed, and prosecuted by every government to become the masters. He turned the pyramid upside down.'

Market Qadhafi's unique plan has backfired internationally and though few go hungry at home people here are  starved of freedom. The grass roots utopian ideals are forced upon the Libyan population with an iron fist. Nobody is free to speak out.

Market Interview                   

Q ‘What do you think of your leader Colonel Qadhafi?'

A ‘After 25 years there are many achievements. We thank God we are having a good life from our countries resources.'

Desert poster                       

Qadhafi has brought to his rule something of the uncompromising life of the Bedouin. He was born in a tent and spends months each year roaming the deserts.

Night Scenes                        

Human rights is a word not mentioned in the open. Society is controlled by popular committees supposedly nominated by the people. In reality they have become a dangerous and deadly force of control with few limits to their powers.

Interview                                

‘The regime is very oppressive and the risk is very high. Students of the revolutionary committees in Al Fatah university and in Benghazi university have actually tried fellow students and hanged them in the university grounds. This happened during the students revolution. We also heard about a teacher who had been tried by his students and hanged to death.'

Airport                                   

As Qadhafi celebrates 25 years in power he'll be receiving no guests through Tripoli airport. Accused of protecting the 2 men who blew up the Lockerbie jet  in 1988 Libyan airlines are unlikely to fly in the near future.

Ships at sea                         

And with a hardening of UN resolve even the ships waiting to come into Tripoli may soon go, leaving Libyans to depend entirely on their own resources. And they are unlikely to receive sympathy from Britain having armed the IRA.  Today it's a decision the Libyans say they regret and one made  in a moment of anger following the bombing of Qadhafi's house.

Interview: Saad Mejber

Secretary of the foreign affairs committee.

‘This Irish problem we got into it accidentally. If Britain and America can practise revenge why can't Libya practise it. So we went there and supported them again because they are the only people who can hit the British. We don't have any ballistic missiles. We don't have any strategic planes. We don't have any submarines. We don't have nuclear weapons. We don't have any means of inflicting the same suffering the British and the Americans have inflicted on us.'

Mosque                                 

As Qadhafi reaches his 25th anniversary he may yet have his greatest challenge ahead. The Islamic resurgence taking root in North Africa is no friend of his.

Preacher                               

All mosque preachers in Libya are employed and controlled by the government in the same way that journalists are. Already the Algerian fundamentalist group FIS is said to have a toehold in Libya. While Libyans can afford to eat the fundamentalists are unlikely to be a problem but that could change if sanctions start to hurt ordinary Libyans.   

ENDS