Muammar Qaddafi

As a twenty-seven-year-old military officer, Muammar al-Qaddafi deposed the king of Libya and took over the government in 1969. He has been in power ever since, leading without official title but in full control of this North African nation. Although often erratic in behavior, he is credited with raising the standard of living for Libyans and bringing in a higher level of education. Through the years Qaddafi has been linked to terrorist organizations, and his actions against both friends and foes have often been violent. Yet, early in the twenty-first century, he has shown an interest in joining the circle of peaceful nations.