The European Union reopened its mission in Libya last week, and other governments have restarted their diplomatic missions since March, in a show of support for a transitional government that was established after a U. Libya's envoy to the U. S, Embassy, saying it would send an important symbolic message.
The embassy was closed in when officials decided that fighting near the city made operating in the capital unsafe. The embassy was moved to neighboring Tunisia. After the Benghazi attack and the closing of the embassy, the Obama administration discouraged visits by senior U.
The decision was "that we're not going to take the risk — period," said a senior Obama administration official who worked on regional diplomacy.
An embassy helps keep the government back home informed and serves an array of practical functions, including consular services, assistance to U. Operating without an embassy puts a government at a disadvantage and deprives it of a full picture of the situation on the ground, the former U. It's bad for U. It's bad for the host country. It's bad for the region. Western governments believe the cease-fire, the transitional government and an election planned for December offer glimmers of hope for a country that has been on a downward spiral since the fall of dictator Moammar Gadhafi in With vital military support from Turkey, the government defeated Hifter's forces, partly with help from Syrian mercenaries.
Under the cease-fire agreed to in October, governments pledged to ensure the withdrawal of all foreign fighters and mercenaries and to halt further breaches of a U. But a recent U.
Now the U. The area to the northeast of Benghazi is fertile, and it facilitated the settlement of Greeks in ancient times. Benghazi's soil has a rich red color, and as Sirocco winds are common, the city's buildings and smaller streets can be dusty. A narrow strip of Mediterranean farmland exists to the city's north where Mediterranean fruits such as olives are cultivated.
The population of eastern Libya is predominantly of Arab descent. Benghazi has however witnessed the immigration of communities from Africa in recent times. Egyptians and Greeks are among the immigrants in the city. Crete Island, which lies in proximity to Benghazi, has had some level of influence among its population as evident with numerous families in Benghazi identifying with Cretan surnames.
Although the majority of Libyans living in the city have Arab-descent, there exists a minority with Berber-descent.
Benghazi's population is estimated at , Peaceful protests were witnessed in the city in February , but they were brutally quelled by the Kalb forces loyal to Gaddafi as well as by the regime's other loyalists. This violence encouraged the city's residents to organize uprisings geared to forcing Gaddafi's regime out of government.
Al-Imam was captured in Libya on Oct. He was found guilty of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists and maliciously destroying and injuring a dwelling and placing lives in jeopardy by a jury on June 13, The former charge is punishable by up to a maximum of 15 years in prison, while the latter charge is punishable by up to a maximum of 20 years in prison.
The jury failed to reach a verdict on 15 other charged counts, leading the court to declare a mistrial on June 17, The government has not yet announced whether it plans to retry Al-Imam on the remaining counts.
The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court after considering the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The trial began with opening statements on May 8, , before a jury in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Christopher R. Cooper of the U. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Over the next four weeks, the government presented testimony from 27 witnesses.
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