16 February 2000: Corrections made by David Shayler: "I based my corrections on my knowledge of the Libyan target and of course my acquaintance with the acronyms and jargon of the intelligence services." See press release: http://cryptome.org/shayler021600.htm. Thanks to Julie-Ann Davies.
14 February 2000. Thanks to anonymous.
Source:
http://www.geocities.com/byanymeans_2000/document.html
[unavailable on February 17, 2000]
Source document image mirrored here: http://cryptome.org/cx2.jpg (211K)
See related February 13, 2000 news report: http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/sti/2000/02/13/stinwenws02035.html?1124027
Italicized text and blanks added to original by others. Original image fuzzy; send errata to: cx95@cryptome.org
5C2C IDP225 O24276 GG9613 NG0044 04122114 1CA952 91.13 OO GG6 GG9 NDO LOG .5 G4 LEDGER LEX095 AAAA 041807Z DEC 95 Names and tel nos removed FM LONDON to protect security TO PUSD 185 IMMEDIATE TO RESEARCH DEPT 234 IMMEDIATE TO MOD 913 IMMEDIATE TO CABINET OFFICER 721 IMMEDIATE TO SECURITY SERVICE 100 IMMEDIATE BT IMMEDIATE LEDGER UK S E C R E T/DELICATE SOURCE/UK EYES ALPHA REQUIREMENTS: 2LIAPX01 LEDGER DISTRIBUTION: FCO - PUSD DICTD NENAD RAD - ME MOD - DI(I AND W) DI (ROW)A CABINET OFFICE - JIC (ASSESSMENTS STAFF GCHQ - E1GA2 SECURITY SERVICE - G9A5, G6A5 AND G6A3 BRITISH AUTHORITIES INFORMED: CAIRO TUNIS WASHINGTON CX 95/53452(R/ME/C) OF 04 DECEMBER 1995 (GTN[---------] EXT [-------]) /REPORT PAGE TWO UK S E C R E T/DELICATE SOURCE/UK EYES ALPHA REPORT NO: 95/53452 (R/ME/C) TITLE: LIBYA: PLANS TO OVERTHROW QADAHFI IN EARLY 1996 ARE WELL ADVANCED SOURCE: A NEW SOURCE WITH DIRECT ACCESS WHOSE RELIABILITY HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED SUMMARY 5 Libyan colonels in charge of plans to overthrow QADAHFI, scheduled to coincide with the next General Peoples Congress in February. Coup will start with unrest in Tripoli, Misratah and Benghazi. Coup plotters are not associated with Islamic fundamentalists. MUSA QADHAR AL-DAM murdered by coup plotters in June. Attempt to assassinate QADAHFI in August thwarted by security police. DETAIL 1. In late November 1995 [Removed to protect TUNWORTH's identity] described plans, in which he was involved, to overthrow Colonel QADAHFI. He said that 5 colonels from various parts of the armed forces were in charge of the coup plot. these included [blank------ -----------------------------blank] The latter was most likely to take overall control. 2. The coup was scheduled to start at around the time of the next General Peoples Congress on 14 February 1996. It would begin with attacks on a number of military and security installations including the military installation at TARHUNA. There would also be orchestrated civil unrest in Benghazi, Misratah and Tripoli. The coup plotters would launch a direct attack on QADAHFI and would /either PAGE THREE UK S E C R E T/DELICATE SOURCE/UK EYES ALPHA 95/53452 either arrest him or kill him. 3. The coup plotters had 1275 active sympathisers in the following areas: TRIPOLI 240 persons; BENGHAZI 135; TOBRUK 114; MISRATAH 148; SIRTE 40; AL-ZAMIYA 180; AL ZUMARAH 300; AL KHUMS 28; GHADAMIS 50. Their occupations ranged from students, military personnel and teachers throgh to businessmen, doctors, police officers and civil servants. The plotters were divided into 5 groups, each with 5 officers in charge. Messages to members of each group were passed via schools and Mosques. The start of the coup would be signalled through coded messages on television and radio. The coup plotters had sympathisers working in the press, radio and television. 4. The military officer said that the plotters would have cars similar to those in QADAHFI's security entourage with fake security number plates. They would infiltrate themselves into the entourage in order to kill or arrest QADAHFI. 5. One group of military personnel were currently being trained in the desert area near KUFRA for ther role of attacking QADAHFI and his entourage. The aim was to attack QADAHFI after the GPC, but before he had returned to SIRTE. One officer and 20 men were being trained especially for this attack. 6. The coup plotters were not associated with the Islamic fundamentalists who were fermenting unrest in Benghazi. However, they had had some limited contact with the fundamentalists, whom the military officer described as a mix of Libya veterans who served in Afghanistan and Libyan students. The coup plotters also had limited contact with the Algerian and Tunisian governments, but the latter did not know of their plans. /7. PAGE FOUR UK S E C R E T/DELICATE SOURCE/UK EYES ALPHA 95/53452 7. The coup plotters were responsible for the death of [blank,-- Names removed to protect security------------------blank] was about to take up the position as head of Military Intelligence when he was forced off the Tripoli-Sirte road and was killed. The 2 coup plotters involved escaped unhurt. In August 1995, 3 army captains who were part of the coup plot attempted to kill Colonel QADAHFI. However, security police caught them waiting at the roadside on the Tripoli-Sirte road awaiting QADAHFI's entourage. Both men escaped to TUNISIA. 8. The plotters had already distributed 250 Webley pistols and 500 heavy machine guns amongst the groups. SOURCE COMMENT A. The coup plotters expected to establish control of Libya by the end of March 1996. They would form an interim government before discussions with tribal leaders. The group would want rapproachment with the West. They hoped to divide the country into smaller areas, each with a governor and a democratically elected parliament. There would be a federal system of national government. B. The officer was disclosing this information in the hope that if the coup was successful, the new government could enlist HMG support. Other plotters were aware of the officer's contact with HMG, but did not entirely approve of it. GRS C0616
Transcription by Cryptome.