The leader of the Libyan revolution presides over a “famously fractious” family that is powerful, wealthy, dysfunctional and marked by internecine struggles, according to U.S. diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks. The documents shed light on his eight children. Muammar Qadhafi The patriarch, now 68, was described by U.S. ambassador to Tripoli, Gene Cretz, in 2009 as a “mercurial and eccentric figure who suffers from severe phobias, enjoys flamenco dancing and horseracing, acts on whims and irritates friends and enemies alike.” Qadhafi has an intense dislike or fear of staying on upper floors, and prefers not to fly over water, the cables add.
Safiya (nee Farkash) Qadhafi's second wife travels by chartered jet in Libya, with a motorcade of Mercedes vehicles waiting to pick her up at the airport to take her to her destination, but her movements are limited and discreet. Hails from Benghazi, the centre of the rebellion. Seif al-Islam Second-eldest son. Cables claim at odds with siblings Muatassim, Aisha, Hannibal, and Sa'adi. Sa'adi Third-eldest son. “Notoriously ill-behaved Sa'adi has a troubled past, including scuffles with police in Europe (especially Italy), abuse of drugs and alcohol, excessive partying, travel abroad in contravention of his father's wishes.
Former professional footballer (a single season with Perugia in Italy's Serie A league, he owns a significant share of al-Ahli, one of the two biggest soccer teams in Libya, and has run Libya's football federation). An engineer by training, Sa'adi was briefly an officer in a special forces unit. Used troops under his control to affect the outcome of business deals. Owns a film production company. Reported to have been involved in crushing the protests in Benghazi. Muatassim Fourth-eldest son. Father's national security adviser and until recently a rising star.
Hannibal Chequered history of unseemly behaviour and public scuffles with authorities in Europe and elsewhere. Arrest in Geneva over alleged beating his servants led to a bilateral spat, in which the Swiss were forced to back down under threat of withdrawal of Libyan investments. Is the fifth eldest son. Khamis Qadhafi's sixth son and the “well-respected” commander of a special forces unit — 32nd battalion or Khamis brigade that effectively serves as a regime protection unit and was reportedly involved in suppressing unrest in Benghazi. Trained in Russia.
Aisha Daughter who mediates in family disputes ands runs NGO. Reported to have financial interests in a private clinic in Tripoli, one of two trustworthy facilities that supplement the unreliable healthcare available through public facilities. Muhammad The eldest son, but by Qadhafi's first wife. Heads the Libyan Olympic committee that now owns 40 per cent of the Libyan Beverage Company, currently the Libyan joint venture Coca-Cola franchisee. Also runs general post and telecommunications committee.
Saif al-Arab Least publicly known of the eight children. Reportedly lives in Munich, where it is claimed he pursues ill-defined business interests and spends much time partying. Like all the Qadhafi children and favourites is supposed to have income streams from the national oil company and oil services subsidiaries. A seventh son, Milad Abuztaia, is an adopted nephew. ( Ian Black is the Guardian's Middle East editor.)
— © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2011
Safiya (nee Farkash) Qadhafi's second wife travels by chartered jet in Libya, with a motorcade of Mercedes vehicles waiting to pick her up at the airport to take her to her destination, but her movements are limited and discreet. Hails from Benghazi, the centre of the rebellion. Seif al-Islam Second-eldest son. Cables claim at odds with siblings Muatassim, Aisha, Hannibal, and Sa'adi. Sa'adi Third-eldest son. “Notoriously ill-behaved Sa'adi has a troubled past, including scuffles with police in Europe (especially Italy), abuse of drugs and alcohol, excessive partying, travel abroad in contravention of his father's wishes.
Former professional footballer (a single season with Perugia in Italy's Serie A league, he owns a significant share of al-Ahli, one of the two biggest soccer teams in Libya, and has run Libya's football federation). An engineer by training, Sa'adi was briefly an officer in a special forces unit. Used troops under his control to affect the outcome of business deals. Owns a film production company. Reported to have been involved in crushing the protests in Benghazi. Muatassim Fourth-eldest son. Father's national security adviser and until recently a rising star.
Hannibal Chequered history of unseemly behaviour and public scuffles with authorities in Europe and elsewhere. Arrest in Geneva over alleged beating his servants led to a bilateral spat, in which the Swiss were forced to back down under threat of withdrawal of Libyan investments. Is the fifth eldest son. Khamis Qadhafi's sixth son and the “well-respected” commander of a special forces unit — 32nd battalion or Khamis brigade that effectively serves as a regime protection unit and was reportedly involved in suppressing unrest in Benghazi. Trained in Russia.
Aisha Daughter who mediates in family disputes ands runs NGO. Reported to have financial interests in a private clinic in Tripoli, one of two trustworthy facilities that supplement the unreliable healthcare available through public facilities. Muhammad The eldest son, but by Qadhafi's first wife. Heads the Libyan Olympic committee that now owns 40 per cent of the Libyan Beverage Company, currently the Libyan joint venture Coca-Cola franchisee. Also runs general post and telecommunications committee.
Saif al-Arab Least publicly known of the eight children. Reportedly lives in Munich, where it is claimed he pursues ill-defined business interests and spends much time partying. Like all the Qadhafi children and favourites is supposed to have income streams from the national oil company and oil services subsidiaries. A seventh son, Milad Abuztaia, is an adopted nephew. ( Ian Black is the Guardian's Middle East editor.)
— © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2011
