n.
Arabic 1E6C; ar 0101; bulus al-Gharb
City (pop. 1995 est.: 1,140,00), capital of Libya.
Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it is the country's largest city and chief seaport. Founded by the Phoenician s 0441; 7th century BC, it was known as Oea in ancient times and was one of the three cities of the region of Tripolitania . It was controlled by the Romans from the 1st century BC and later by the Byzantines. It was taken by the Arabs in 645. Conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1551, it was made an Ottoman colonial capital. It was under Italy's control (191143), after which it was occupied by the British until Libya's independence in 1951. U.S. warplanes bombed targets within the city in 1983 in response to the Libyan government's alleged support for terrorist activity. Historical structures include numerous mosques and a Roman triumphal arch. In 1973 Al-Fateh University replaced the former University of Libya.