When Lebanese rebels went through Gadhafi’s deserted Bab al-Azizya compound last August they found some strange and interesting objects among his possessions.
The house was the deposed Colonel’s Tripoli home and stronghold. One of his strangest obsessions seems to have been with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Gadhafi kept an album of clippings and photos of Rice. On a 2008 Libya state visit Rice was gifted a diamond ring and a locket containing a picture of Gadhafi inside. The former Secretary of State wasn’t allowed to keep any gifts per US policy.
In terms of much more stately possessions, rebels also showed off Gadhafi’s 120 million dollar plane which was decked out with a leather-trimmed bedroom and living quarters. The plane’s interior was decorated in silver and red, and the former dictator also owned 24 karat gold china. His house also had a gold mermaid couch, and a treasure trove of gold chains, scepters, gold watches, ceremonial weapons, bejeweled ornaments, chandeliers and numerous portraits.
Gadhafi’s children also lived with royal largesse. His daughter Aisha lived in a gold-themed mansion. The house was complete with gilded mermaid sculptures and busts of her own likeness.
One golden asset rebels have not been able to touch is the 143.8 tons of gold in Libya’s central bank, which is controlled by Gadhafi. The Financial Times described the $6.5 billion stash as “enough to pay a small army of mercenaries for months or even years.”
Even though Libya was under sanction from the United States, Libya was an OPEC member and sits on one of the largest oil fields in Africa. Gadhafi has funded his dictatorship with billion in oil revenue. So, in many ways, Libya is still filled with what they call “black gold” or oil resources.
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