Tarhuna

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Tarhuna
ترهونة
Town
Tarhuna
Location in Libya
Coordinates: 32°26′02″N 13°38′04″E / 32.43389°N 13.63444°E / 32.43389; 13.63444
Country  Libya
Region Tripolitania
District Murqub
Elevation[1] 1,289 ft (393 m)
Population (2011)[2]
 • Total 13,264
Time zone UTC +2

Tarhuna (/tɑrˈhuːnə/; Arabic: ترهونة‎), also Tarhoona or Tarhunah, is a Libyan town 65 kilometres (40 mi) to the southeast of Tripoli, in the Murqub District. The city derives its name from that of its pre-Roman-era inhabitants, a Berber tribe. The city was known as al-Boirat during the 19th through mid 20th century, but assumed it current name after Libyan independence. The Tarhuna district, including the city of Msallata, had an urban population of about 296,000 (est. 2003),[3] while population in Tarhuna proper was calculated to be 13,264 in 2011.[2]

History

In the city centre of Tarhuna, just opposite the Tarhuna mosque, there is a memorial to Ali Swidan Alhatmy who was a hero in the 18 June 1915, Battle of El-Shqiga against the Italians. He was captured in 1922 and hanged by the Italians in the town square.

Population generally belongs to the Tarhuna tribe, which was favoured during the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. In late August 2011 (as part of the Libyan civil war), opposition forces from the National Liberation Amy entered Tarhuna, amidst mixed feelings from the citizens.[4] It is known that Khamis Gaddafi, son of Muammar Gaddafi, died in clashes near Tarhuna.[5]

On 23 August Interior ministry spokesman Abdelmonem al-Hur stated that more than a hundred tanks and twenty-six rocket launchers were seized from an alleged pro-Gaddafi militia (named Katibat Al-Awfiyah, or Brigade of the Faithful), during a raid on their campsite in Tarhuna. The operation ended with one of the suspects killed, eight wounded and thirteen detainees, accused of being linked with the 19 August Tripoli bombings.[6][7][8]

Economy

Tarhuna is a leading producer of olive oil, cereals, figs, grapes, sparto grass, and various nuts.[citation needed]

Education

The Faculty of Law of Al Nasser University is located north of town.[9]

Coordinates: 32°26′02″N 13°38′04″E / 32.43389°N 13.63444°E / 32.43389; 13.63444

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Wolfram Alpha
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Data from World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Libya 2003 Census of Population" Libyan national authority for information and authentication, archive from Internet Archive, 21 January 2008
  4. ↑ "Gadhafi loyalists remain firm." Concord Monitor/AP, 31 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
  5. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032801/Khamis-Gaddafi-killed-Rebels-took-vengeance-despite-car-armoured-like-tank.html
  6. ↑ "At least 12 killed in tribal clash in Libya". NBC. Reuters. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012. 
  7. ↑ "Libya seizes tanks from pro-Gaddafi militia". BBC. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012. 
  8. ↑ "Tanks seized from pro-Gaddafi militia". Courier Mail. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012. 
  9. ↑ Azema, James (2000) Libya handbook: the travel guide Footprint, Bath, United Kingdom, page 119, ISBN 1-900949-77-6

External links

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