ABSTRACT
A coup overthrew the eighteen-year-old Libyan monarchy. By September 4, 1969, the Bayda Domestic Service was reporting that Britain had rejected King Idris Miskin's request to land British troops in Benghazi and Tripoli and was prepared to maintain good relations with the new Libyan leaders. Concerning the oil sector, Dr. Mahmud Sulayman al-Maghribi assured the reporter that there would be no major change in Libya's oil policy as long as the interests of Libyans were taken into consideration. On September 16, 1969, Mu'ammar al Qadhdhafi gave a speech of which there are two versions. The first was broadcast on the Bayda Domestic Radio Service, and the second was reported by the official Directorate of Information and National Guidance. An Egyptian agent, Fathi al-Dib, initiated an arms transaction with France on behalf of Libya, and a month later a Libyan delegation arrived in France to begin negotiations.
