LIBYA - Moammar Mohammed Abdel Salam Abu Minyar Al Qadhafi.

In power since Sept. 1, 1969, Qadhafi is the supreme decision maker and can at any time decide on a petroleum project or other matters. He demonstrated this during a Nov. 14-15, 2000, "International Conference on Development and Investment in the Great Jamahiriya" (Libyan Public - not a republic) in Tripoli. He swept into the conference on the second day, unannounced and with minimal formality and little security, wearing an immaculate white suit, and said: "Libya wants to encourage foreign capital investment and partnership, not only for the benefit of this country but for the entire African continent to which Libya is the gateway for Europe".

"Libya is serious about this", Qadhafi added, "and will benefit from and is in need of foreign investment. We will create the right atmosphere for the investor. We are here to ensure every one of you that your partnership, investment, capital and ventures are safe". However, there remains a great deal of unpredictability about his decisions, and the continuity of policies for the hydrocarbon sector or any other part of the Libyan economy. He can randomly appoints or sacks advisors and relatives, and often does.

On March 1, 2000, Qadhafi got the GPC's annual meeting in the southern town of Sebha to scrap 12 secretariats (ministries), leaving only the Secretariats for Foreign Affairs, African Unity, Finance, Information, and Justice and Public Order. He told the GPC: "We have shown the world a model demonstrating that governments are not needed. You have no more government to complain against. Now everything is in your hands and in future you can only complain to yourselves". The powers of qualified technocrats have since declined in favour of popular committees headed by people close to Qadhafi's often varying "inner circles".

Born in 1942 at a village which the Saudi magazine 'Al Majalla' has called "Juhannam" (in Arabic meaning hell) in the Sirte region, Qadhafi belongs to the Qadhadfa tribe. His father was a camel dealer from the tribe's Qadhafaddam clan.