Bani Walid
| Bani Walid بني وليد |
|
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
 Bani Walid
|
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| Coordinates: 31°46′N 13°59′E / 31.767°N 13.983°E | |
| Country |  Libya |
| Region | Tripolitania |
| District | Misrata |
| Elevation[1] | 837 ft (255 m) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 85,425 |
| Time zone | UTC +2 |
Bani Walid /ˈbæniː wɑˈliːd/ (Arabic: بني وليد Banī Walīd) is a town in Libya, in the Misrata District. The city is located on either side of the wadi Merdum, and is surrounded by the Libyan desert.
Prior to 2007 it was the capital of Bani Walid District. Bani Walid has an airport, Bani Walid airport. Under the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, it was divided into two Basic People's Congresses: Dahra - Bani Walid (الظهرة – بني وليد), and Zaytouna - Bani Walid (الزيتونة – بني وليد).
It is the home to the Warfalla tribe, the only city in which only one tribe resides. A campus of Misrata University is located in Bani Walid.[3][4]
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[edit] Libyan civil war
In the Libyan civil war, after the anti-Gaddafi forces captured Tripoli in August and Sabha in September, Bani Walid, along with Sirte, was one of two final strongholds held by forces loyal to the ousted Gaddafi regime.
[edit] Clashes
There were clashes between anti-Gaddafi forces surrounding the city and Gaddafi loyalists defending it throughout September and early October; the city was finally taken on 17 October.[5][6][7]
On 23 January 2012, around 100-150 local fighters attacked the main NTC army base in Bani Walid, killing eight NTC fighters and wounding at least 20 others.[8][9]
On 25 January 2012, Libya's defense Minister recognized the newly formed local tribal council, which overthrew the local NTC council, as the new authority of Bani Walid.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ Wolfram Alpha
- ^ World Gazetteer. "Libya: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population". http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1273372850&men=gcis&lng=en&des=gamelan&geo=-133&srt=dpnn&col=abcdefghimoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=&srt=pdnn. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ University Profile, Misrata University website, accessed 13 February 2011
- ^ RMJM Chosen to Work on Two University Campuses in Libya, The Tripoli Post, 7 September 2008
- ^ Stephen, Chris; Raufund, Abdul; Smith, David (10 September 2011). "Gaddafi's diehard secret police dig in as Nato jets blast desert stronghold". The Guardian (Tripoli). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/10/gaddafi-beni-walid-rebels-nato. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Stephen, Christopher; Derhally, Massoud A. (10 September 2011). "Libyan Fighters Suspend Qaddafi Attacks". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-08/new-libyan-leaders-face-difficult-fight-for-unity-after-qaddafi-ouster.html.
- ^ Malone, Barry (17 October 2011). "WRAPUP 4-NTC forces celebrate capture of Gaddafi bastion Bani Walid". Reuters Africa. Reuters (Bani Walid). http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL5E7LH3NI20111017. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ "'Pro-Kadhafi' attack kills four in Libya". Google News. Agence France-Presse (Tripoli). 23 January 2012. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gen8BhzM9lp1R5N_zm2yUUMniuig?docId=CNG.019fba2fc3e3a19df21e46d42102fda8.8c1. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Holmes, Oliver (24 January 2012). "UPDATE 1-Anger, chaos but no revolt after Libya violence". Reuters Africa. Reuters (Bani Walid). http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL5E8CO2HB20120124?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
- ^ "UPDATE 2-Libyan government concedes to restive town's demands". Reuters Africa. Reuters (Tripoli). 25 January 2012. http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL5E8CP2IG20120125. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 31°46′N 13°59′E / 31.767°N 13.983°E
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