LibyanPlotTextVersion

5C2C IDP225 O24276 GG9613 NG0044 04122114 1CA952 91.13

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    .5 G4 LEDGER
    LEX095
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    041807Z DEC 95                       Names and tel nos removed
    FM LONDON                            to protect security
    TO PUSD 185 IMMEDIATE
    TO RESEARCH DEPT 234 IMMEDIATE
    TO MOD 913 IMMEDIATE
    TO CABINET OFFICER 721 IMMEDIATE
    TO SECURITY SERVICE 100 IMMEDIATE
    BT

    IMMEDIATE

    LEDGER     UK S E C R E T/DELICATE SOURCE/UK EYES ALPHA

    REQUIREMENTS: 2LIAPX01

    LEDGER DISTRIBUTION:
    FCO - PUSD

          DICTD
          NENAD
    RAD - ME
    MOD - DI(I AND W)
          DI (ROW)A
    CABINET OFFICE - JIC (ASSESSMENTS STAFF
    GCHQ - E1GA2
    SECURITY SERVICE - G9A5, G6A5 AND G6A3

    BRITISH AUTHORITIES INFORMED:
    CAIRO
    TUNIS
    WASHINGTON

    CX 95/53452(R/ME/C) OF 04 DECEMBER 1995 (GTN[---------] EXT [-------])

    /REPORT

PAGE TWO     UK S E C R E T/DELICATE SOURCE/UK EYES ALPHA

REPORT NO: 95/53452 (R/ME/C)

    TITLE: LIBYA: PLANS TO OVERTHROW QADAHFI IN EARLY 1996 ARE
           WELL ADVANCED

   SOURCE: A NEW SOURCE WITH DIRECT ACCESS WHOSE RELIABILITY
           HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED

SUMMARY

    5 Libyan colonels in charge of plans to overthrow QADAHFI,
scheduled to coincide with the next General Peoples Congress in
February. Coup will start with unrest in Tripoli, Misratah and
Benghazi. Coup plotters are not associated with Islamic fundamentalists.
MUSA QADHAR AL-DAM murdered by coup plotters in June. Attempt to
assassinate QADAHFI in August thwarted by security police.

DETAIL

1.     In late November 1995 [Removed to protect TUNWORTH's identity]
described plans, in which he was involved, to overthrow Colonel
QADAHFI. He said that 5 colonels from various parts of the armed
forces were in charge of the coup plot. these included [blank------
-----------------------------blank] The latter was most likely to
take overall control.

2.     The coup was scheduled to start at around the time of the next
General Peoples Congress on 14 February 1996. It would begin with
attacks on a number of military and security installations including
the military installation at TARHUNA. There would also be
orchestrated civil unrest in Benghazi, Misratah and Tripoli. The
coup plotters would launch a direct attack on QADAHFI and would
/either

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95/53452

either arrest him or kill him.

3.     The coup plotters had 1275 active sympathisers in the
following areas: TRIPOLI 240 persons; BENGHAZI 135; TOBRUK 114;
MISRATAH 148; SIRTE 40; AL-ZAMIYA 180; AL ZUMARAH 300; AL KHUMS 28;
GHADAMIS 50. Their occupations ranged from students, military
personnel and teachers throgh to businessmen, doctors, police
officers and civil servants. The plotters were divided into 5
groups, each with 5 officers in charge. Messages to members of each
group were passed via schools and Mosques. The start of the coup
would be signalled through coded messages on television and radio.
The coup plotters had sympathisers working in the press, radio and
television.

4.     The military officer said that the plotters would have cars
similar to those in QADAHFI's security entourage with fake security
number plates. They would infiltrate themselves into the entourage
in order to kill or arrest QADAHFI.

5.     One group of military personnel were currently being trained
in the desert area near KUFRA for ther role of attacking QADAHFI and
his entourage. The aim was to attack QADAHFI after the GPC, but
before he had returned to SIRTE. One officer and 20 men were being
trained especially for this attack.

6.     The coup plotters were not associated with the Islamic
fundamentalists who were fermenting unrest in Benghazi. However,
they had had some limited contact with the fundamentalists, whom the
military officer described as a mix of Libya veterans who served in
Afghanistan and Libyan students. The coup plotters also had limited
contact with the Algerian and Tunisian governments, but the latter
did not know of their plans.
/7.

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95/53452

7.     The coup plotters were responsible for the death of [blank,--
Names removed to protect security------------------blank] was about
to take up the position as head of Military Intelligence when he was
forced off the Tripoli-Sirte road and was killed. The 2 coup
plotters involved escaped unhurt. In August 1995, 3 army captains
who were part of the coup plot attempted to kill Colonel QADAHFI.
However, security police caught them waiting at the roadside on the
Tripoli-Sirte road awaiting QADAHFI's entourage. Both men escaped to
TUNISIA.

8.     The plotters had already distributed 250 Webley pistols and
500 heavy machine guns amongst the groups.

SOURCE COMMENT

A.    The coup plotters expected to establish control of Libya by
the end of March 1996. They would form an interim government before
discussions with tribal leaders. The group would want rapproachment
with the West. They hoped to divide the country into smaller areas,
each with a governor and a democratically elected parliament. There
would be a federal system of national government.

B.     The officer was disclosing this information in the hope that
if the coup was successful, the new government could enlist HMG
support. Other plotters were aware of the officer's contact with
HMG, but did not entirely approve of it.

GRS C0616