The following is a brief introduction to Libya.

Located in the northern part of the African continent, the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya covers an area of 1,760,000 square km and has a population of about 6,090,000, with Arabs accounting for 90 percent.

Photo shows the location of Tripoli, capital of Libya.

The country's official religion is Islam, and Libyan Muslims are mainly Sunnis. Arabic is the official language, with English extensively used. Tripoli is the national capital. The current head of state is Muammar Ghaddafi.

Libya gained independence in September 1951, after a decade of British and French administration, as a federal monarchy of three regions under King Mohammed Idris. And in 1953 it joined the Arab League.

Ghaddafi formed in 1963 the Free Officers Movement, a group of revolutionary army officers, and overthrew King Mohammed Idris on Sept. 1, 1969.

In March 1977, Ghaddafi created the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, known as Libya, and established the General People's Congress, People's Committees and Revolutionary Committees.

Since the mid-1980s, Libya has been subject to upgrading sanctions by the United States and the European Union over its alleged terror links.

The country's international relations have been dramatically improved as it agreed to accept responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. The UN sanctions were lifted after the conclusion of a 2. 7-billion-U.S-dollar compensation settlement for the families of the victims in 2003.

Of equal significance and surprise to the world was Tripoli's announcement in December 2003 that Libya would abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs and accept more stringent weapon inspections.