Figures around Gaddafi: New book reveals Libyan leader's secrets

A new book profiles 37 of the late Muammar Gaddafi's closest allies, told from the personal experience of a man who spent nearly four decades inside the regime

The new book, Ashkhas Hawl Al-Qaddafi(Persons around Gaddafi) by Libya's former representative at the UN,Abdel Rahman Shalqam, sheds light on figures who were part of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime — a regime thatwitnessed cracks and defections at the beginnings of the 17 February Revolution that ended in Gaddafi's death.
The new book was the focus of discussion at a seminar held at the Cairo International Book Fair featuring renowned Egyptian writer and novelist Gamal Al-Ghitany as well as Libyan Ambassador to Egypt Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Faqih.
The author, who was unfortunately absent from the discussion, was the first state employee to split from Gaddafi's regime, declaring his rejection of Gaddafi's policies in an emotional speech before the UN Security Council. Shalqam was a childhood friend of Gaddafi, joining his regime in the early 1970s. Throughout, he maintained close ties with most of its figures.
According to Ambassador Al-Faqih, the book features profiles of 37 persons, including two women. However, he warned that they do not represent the entire regime. "The figures featured in the book were carefully selected, and were limited to those who stayed with Gaddafi to the very end. His close allies who died before him were excluded," Al-Faqih explained.
Al-Faqih considers the book a lesson in the mechanisms that create tyrannical dictators and regimes, offered by a man fully on top of the secrets of the inner house of one such regime, in addition to the author's deep familiarity with history and psychology, blending this with his personal experience as one of the main players on the Libyan stage.
Ali Abou-Qreen, a Libyan doctor and friend of Shalqam who was among the guests, praised the literary language of the book, stating that it is an important mark in the history of Libya, and will be an addition to the Arabic library, adding that Shalqam had literary tendencies since he was young. Yet he blamed him for drawing a sentimental picture of some Gaddafi regime figures, something that could permit an audience unfamiliar with Libyan affairs to sympathise with them.
Al-Ghitany, who is also a friend of the author, said that the Shalqam has a unique literary skill, proven first by the speech he gave at the UN, which Al-Ghitany described as a "lofty piece of literature." He added: "Shalqam's resignation from the Gaddafi regime was not a surprise to me, though it surprised everyone else. Shalqam had expressed his contempt for Gaddafi years before the revolution, describing him as 'Insane' though at the time he was part of his regime."
"He used to say, 'From my position I can serve people; I can even reduce the evils of the regime. This is why I didn't quit,'" Al-Ghitany explained. He added that Shalqam did not hesitate in declaring his resignation from New York, "even though his son was still in Libya under Gaddafi's mercy." He could notbear witnessing the killing and destruction Gaddafi authored in Libya.
Shalqam's book was released by Al-Fergani Publishing in Libya this month and is being marked by Libyans as part of the cultural activities of the Cairo International Book Fair.
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