COUNTRY PROFILE: LIBYA
April 2005
COUNTRY
Formal Name: Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
(Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah
al Uzma).
Short Form: Libya.
Term for Citizen(s): Libyan(s).
Capital: Tripoli (also known as Tarabulus), with an estimated population of 1,223,300 in 2002.
Major Cities: Tripoli, Benghazi, Misratah, Az Zawiyah, Tobruk (according to decreasing size, 2000–2002 estimates).
Independence: December 24, 1951, from Italy.
NATIONAL Public Holidays: Commercial offices and government establishments are closed on Fridays. In 2005 the major holidays are: January 21* (Eid al Adha, Feast of the Sacrifice); February 10* (Islamic New Year); February 19* (Ashoura); March 28 (Evacuation Day); April 21* (Mouloud, Birth of Muhammad); June 11 (Evacuation Day); September 1 (Revolution Day); September 2* (Leilat al Meiraj, ascension of Muhammad); October 7 (Evacuation Day); November 4* (Eid al Fitr, end of Ramadan). Holidays that vary according to the Islamic lunar calendar are marked with an asterisk.
Flag:
The flag is plain green, the traditional color of Islam (the state religion).