Embassy of Libya, London
Embassy of Libya in London | |
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Location | Knightsbridge, London |
Address | 15 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7LY |
Ambassador | Mahmud Mohammed Nacua |
The Embassy of Libya in London is the diplomatic mission of Libya in the United Kingdom.
The embassy was formerly located in the St. James's district and was frequently targeted by protesters opposed to the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. One of these protests, in 1984, led to shooting of a British police officer, Yvonne Fletcher and the subsequent siege of the embassy by armed police.[1] Diplomatic relations with Libya were broken off and were not resumed until 1999, whereupon the embassy was moved to its current location in Knightsbridge.
The embassy was again the focus of attention in 2011 during the Libyan Civil War. There were several protests against the Gaddafi government's crackdown on protesters in Benghazi in the early part of the year[2], culminating in the occupation of the roof of the embassy and the swapping of the flag of the Gadaffi government with that of the National Transitional Council (now the current Libyan flag).[3] In July of that year the British government expelled the existing embassy staff and formally recognised the NTC as the sole legimate authority in Libya.[4]
Gallery
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Plaque outside the embassy
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The embassy prior to the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi
- ^ "The Bloody History of London's Infamous Libyan Embassy". 24 August 2011.
- ^ "Gaddafi protests outside Libyan embassy in London". 20 February 2011.
- ^ "Protesters occupy Libyan embassy roof in London". 16 March 2011.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary welcomes re-opening of Libyan Embassy". 9 August 2011.