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TheNational Conference for the Libyan Opposition (NCLO) was aLibyan opposition organization during the later years of theGaddafi government. Its stated goal was to bring "an end totyranny and the establishment of a constitutional anddemocraticlegitimacy" toLibya.[2] The NCLO was formed in 2005 and helped to organize some of the initial protests which led to theLibyan Civil War.
In May 2005, the Organizing Committee for the National Conference of the Libyan Opposition held a series of weekly meetings to discuss and develop anagenda for a conference "to put together practical approaches for following up on many efforts made by various Libyan political groups and individuals in their challenge of the Libyandictatorship" ofMuammar Gaddafi.
The National Conference for the Libyan Opposition was formed on 26 June 2005 inLondon. Composed primarily of opposition advocates and activists living outside Libya, the Conference met sharing three demands:
Following the 2005 Conference, the NCLO agreed on a mission to call for a medium to address the Libyan people and the need to create a legal mechanism forprosecuting the leaders of the Gaddafi regime.[2] The Conference has since been using the internet andsocial networking sites such asFacebook as political tools to organize and garner support.[3]
During theLibyan Civil War, the NCLO aided in organizing the 17 February "Day of Rage", stating that "all" groups opposed to Gaddafi both within Libya and in exile planned the protests in memory of the demonstrations in Benghazi on 17 February 2006 that were initially against theJyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons, but which turned into protests against Gaddafi.[4][5][6]
The NCLO's website disappeared sometime after the end of the civil war, and the organization is now presumed to have disbanded as its purpose is fulfilled and several of its member groups no longer exist.
The National Conference for the Libyan Opposition is an umbrella group of seven smaller organisations, these include:
