User:Libya tahrir/Omar El-Hariri

Omar Mokhtar El-Hariri is a leading figure of the new Interim Transitional National Council of Libya and has been designated as the head of the military affairs department(1). He shares a similar history to Nelson Mandela in a mutual struggle against an oppressive regime and lengthy incarceration.

El-Hariri was involved in the initial 1969 coup against the monarchy that brought Gaddafi into his 42 year reign over Libya. The relationship changed dramatically when El-Hariri was involved in a 1975 coup to overthrow Gaddafi(2). When the coup was uncovered, 300 men were arrested and 4 of them dies during interrogation. Of the remainder 21 were sentenced to death, including El-Hariri.

He was imprisoned for 15 years from 1975 to 1990 under a death sentence, with 4 1/2 years in solitary confinement. Gaddafi commuted the sentence in 1990 and El-Hariri was subsequently placed under house arrest in Tobrouk for 21 years, under close scrutiny of the security forces until the revolt in February 2011.

With his military experience and involvement in the failed coup of 1969, El-Hariri is well placed to guide the new uprising that started from the "Children of Facebook"(3). El-Hariri is councilling caution and ensuring the resistance has a clear plan in place to ensure a successful change in regime and avoid the mistakes of the 1969 coup to ensure the creation of a political system to serve the people(4).

El-Hariri is a a well respected figure in Libyan society and he is regularly greeted as a hero in his frequent walks through the city of Benghazi. Col Lamine Abdul Wahab of the miltary council said of El-Hariri: "He is a well-known personality and very popular as he tried to overthrow Gaddafi.".

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, El-Hariri said: ''“They will elect a new president and he will serve for a limited time. He could be removed if he does not serve the people. And, of course, we will need a parliament, and a multiparty system.”''(5)

(1) http://ntclibya.org/english/council-members/

(2) http://www.businessinsider.com/libyas-opposition-leadership-national-libyan-council-2011-3?page=1

(3,4,5) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/how-a-onetime-friend-to-gadhafi-became-his-rival/article1927852/