Who is Gaddafi

The months-long conflict has put the 41-year leader Muammar Gaddafi under world limelight.

The veteran,who's been at the helm of Libya since 27 years old,has so far shown no intention of giving in and has repeatedly vowed to fight back.　

World News profiles the longest-serving leader in both Africa and the Arab world.

Muammar Gaddafi was born in the desert region of Sirte in 1942

He went to study history at the University of Lybia in 1961 before entering the Benghazi Military Academy.

After graduation from the Academy in 1965, Gaddafi served in teh Libyan army and received further army training in Britain before returning to the Libyan city of Benghazi.

At the age of 27,he launched a bloodless coup in Benghazi on September 1, 1969,　toppling the King Idris Ⅰ’s monarchy.

He then established the Libyan Arab Republic and became chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of　Libya.

Gaddafi served as Libya's prime minister and minister of defense from 1970 to 1972.

In1977,he became the revolutionary leader and supreme commander of the Armed Forces.

Throughout his career, he has promoted pan-Arabism and embraced Africa.　

Terror attacks in Europe in the 1980s attributed to people linked to his government brought about isolation for his state from much of the world.

A terror attack on a Pan Am Jet over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1938 proved to have link with LIbya

But Gaddafi has established his name as a skilled political operator by moving swiftly to bring his nation out of the diplomatic isolation.

Gaddafi relinquished all his administration positions in 1979,only retaining the title of "Revolutionary Leader of Libya."　

He has ruled Libya for 41 years.