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Rediff.com  » News » IN PICS: Femme fatales who protected Gaddafi
This article was first published 13 years ago

IN PICS: Femme fatales who protected Gaddafi

Last updated on: October 21, 2011 15:12 IST

Image: A caricature depicting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (C) with female bodyguards is displayed in a gallery at an exhibition titled Gaddafi's Crimes Exhibition at Old University in Benghazi
Photographs: Esam Al-Fetori/Reuters

They were clearly not around when Gaddafi needed them the most on Thursday, but they were indeed a sight to behold in the Arab world: the all-women squad of bodyguards, dressed in blue and armed to the teeth, who surrounded the slain leader.

The elite Amazonian Guard, some of them as young as 16 were hand-picked, and were trained for three years in armed and unarmed combat, killing techniques; some of them were even taught to fly fighter jets. They were reportedly virgins, and often came from distant cities for the chance to serve their 'beloved' leader.

In a part of the world where many women are relegated to second class citizens, this was considered quite a feat.

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IN PICS: Femme fatales who protected Gaddafi


IN PICS: Femme fatales who protected Gaddafi


IN PICS: Femme fatales who protected Gaddafi


IN PICS: Femme fatales who protected Gaddafi


IN PICS: Femme fatales who protected Gaddafi


IN PICS: Femme fatales who protected Gaddafi


IN PICS: Femme fatales who protected Gaddafi