1969 GADDAFI COUP d’etat
the 1 September Revolution
On 1 September, 1969, Gaddafi and the members of the Free Unionist Officers Movement, began ‘Operation Jerusalem’, this was the coup d’etat to overthrow King Idris and the monarchy. They began by taking control of airports, police stations, media outlets, and government offices in the major cities of Tripoli and Benghazi. Gaddafi himself asserted control of the Berka barracks which were situated in Benghazi, while Omar Meheishi took control of the Tripoli barracks, with the anti-aircraft batteries being seized1.
Colonel Gaddafi
Photo, CC. Wikipedia.
gaddafi comes to power - ap footage of gaddafi following the 1969 revolution
During this time, Khweldi Hameidi, another of Gaddafi's officers was dispatched to detain Crown Prince Hasan as-Senussi, the nephew of King Idris and successor to the throne, who was acting for King Idris while king Idris was in Turkey obtaining medical treatment. The Crown Prince offered minimal resistance and relinquished his right to the throne 2.
With the removal of the monarchy, Gaddafi through a radio declaration announced to the people of Libya, the setting up of the ‘Libyan Arab Republic’, which he stated would bring an end to the corruption of the current regime and would be the start of immense change in the political and social structure of Libya.This followed with the foundation of the Revolutionary Command Council, which consisted of the 12 members of the Free Officers Movement. Gaddafi, who had swiftly promoted himself to the rank of General, became the Chairman of the RCC, and appointed himself head of state, with Abdessalam Jalloud appointed as Prime Minister3.
Gaddafi at an Arab summit in Libya, following the 1 September Revolution, with Gamal Abdel Nasser and Syrian President Nureddin al-Atassi. Creative Commons, Wikipedia
Footnotes
Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, December 16). Muammar Gaddafi. Wikipedia. Retrieved December 21, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muammar_Gaddafi#Coup_d'%C3%A9tat:_1969
Ibid
Ibid