August 31, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 28, 1429

ITALY, which ruled Libya from 1911 to 1943, has had difficult relations with Muammar Qadhafi since he seized power in 1969.

More recently ties have warmed up, and Rome, as Libya’s main diplomatic interlocutor and trading partner in Europe, backed Tripoli’s drive to mend fences with the West.

Here are some details of Italian relations with Libya since 1900:

— Italian forces landed in Libya in 1911 having declared war on the Ottomans who had established direct rule over part of Libya the year before.

— During World War I, Libyan resistance to Italian rule began under the leadership of the Sanusiya dynasty and Umar Al Mukhtar. The Italians held only the coastal towns of Tripoli, Benghazi, Derna and Tobruk.— In 1920, Muhammad Idris was recognised as the ruler of the interior oases in an agreement known as the Accord of Al Rajma. Two years later Count Volpi was appointed governor of all Libya and in 1928 Marshal Badoglio became governor-general.

— An Italian royal decree named the country Libya in 1934.

— In World War II allies ousted the Italians from Libya (the last Axis were driven out in 1943) and it was then divided between France and Britain.

— Libya became independent under King Idris in 1951. He was overthrown on Sept 1, 1969 by Muammar Qadhafi and nationalist officers who staged a bloodless military coup while the king was in Turkey. The monarchy was abolished.—Reuters