Moammar Gadhafi led a military coup in 1969 that began in Benghazi . For years , Libya profited greatly from its vast oil reserves . The U.S. government has blamed the attack on an al Qaeda splinter group called Ansar al-Sharia, which was formed after the fall of Tripoli. Gadhafi has been controversial internationally and has become more a statesman lately . His government has restricted communication and freedom , experts and critics say .
Moammar Gadhafi led a military coup in 1969 that began in Benghazi . The U.S. government has blamed the attack on an al Qaeda splinter group called Ansar al-Sharia, which was formed after the fall of Tripoli. Gadhafi has been controversial internationally and has become more a statesman lately . His government has restricted communication and freedom , experts and critics say .