What happened?

Libya's uprising began in February 2011 after security forces in the eastern city of Benghazi opened fire on a protest.

Anti-government demonstrations then erupted in other towns before eventually reaching Tripoli. They swiftly evolved into an armed revolt seeking to topple to Muammar Gaddafi.

In March 2011, after the UN Security Council authorised "all necessary measures" to protect civilians, Nato powers launched air strikes on government targets, ostensibly aimed at imposing a no-fly zone. With military assistance from the West and several Arab states, rebel forces took Tripoli after six months of fighting in which several thousand people were killed. After four decades in power, Gaddafi went on the run and was captured and killed outside Sirte in August 2011.

The National Transitional Council (NTC), which led the revolt, declared Libya officially "liberated" and promised a pluralist, democratic state. In July 2012, it organised elections for an interim parliament, the General National Congress (GNC), in which liberal, secular and independent candidates beat the Muslim Brotherhood-aligned Justice and Construction Party.

Where are we now?

Since Gaddafi's overthrow Libya has been plagued by instability, with some 300 revolutionary militias clashing repeatedly, defying requests to disarm and besieging government buildings. Many Libyans also complain of uneven regional development, unemployment and a lack of government transparency.

Plans for the election of a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution were announced in September 2013.