Flag of Libya

The national flag of Libya (علم ليبيا ,Ealam Libia) was originally introduced in 1951, following the creation of the Kingdom of Libya. It was designed by Omar Faiek Shennib and approved by King Idris Al Senussi who comprised the UN delegation representing the three regions of Cyrenaica, Fezzan, and Tripolitania at UN unification discussions. The flag was abolished following the fall of the Kingdom in 1969, and the dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi had implemented a few other different flags since then, but it was ultimately readapted by the National Transitional Council following the fall of Gaddafi on 3 August 2011. The flag consists of a triband red-black-green design, the central black band being twice the width of the outer bands. A white star and crescent is located in the centre of the flag. The first Libyan flag design was based on the banner of the Senussi dynasty from Cyrenaica, which consisted of a black field and star and crescent design, and was later used as the flag of the region. Omar Faiek Shennib, Chief of the Royal Diwans, Vice President of the National Assembly and Minister of Defense under King Idris Al Senussi is credited in the memoirs of Adrian Pelt, UN commissioner for Libya (1949 to 1951) for the design of the original flag of Libya. According to Pelt: "during deliberations of the Libyan National Constitutional Convention, a paper drawing of a proposed national flag was presented to the convention by Omar Faiek Shennib (distinguished member of the delegation from Cyrenaica). The design was composed of three colors: red, black and green, with a white crescent and star centered in the middle black stripe. Mr. Shennib informed the delegates that this design had met the approval of His Highness Emir of Cyrenaica, King Idris Al Senussi (later to become King of Libya). The assembly subsequently approved that design." This flag represented Libya from its independence in 1951 until the 1969 Libyan coup d'état.