Az Zawiyah

Az Zawiyah Arabic: الزاوية‎, Az Zāwiyah Az/EZ/Al Zawiyah/Zawiya/Zawia/Zavia/Zauia
Az Zawiyah Location in Libya
Coordinates: 32°45′8″N 12°43′40″E
Country	Libya
District	Az Zawiyah
Population (2006)
- Total	291,000

Az Zawiyah (also known as or Ez or Al Zawiyah or Zawiya or Zawia or Zavia or Zauia), (Arabic: الزاوية‎, transliteration: Az Zāwiyah), (variants: Az Zawiyah Al Gharbiyah, Arabic: الزاوية الغربية‎, Ḩārat az Zāwiyah, Al Ḩārah, El-Hára and Haraf Az Zāwīyah), is a city of northwestern Libya situated on the Mediterranean coast about 40 km (25 mi) west of Tripoli. Az Zawiyah is the capital of a shabiyah (district) with the same name (see Az Zawiyah District).

In the Libyan censuses of 1973 and 1984, the city counted about 100,000, it was then and possibly it continues to be today the fourth largest city in Libya by population (after Tripoli, Benghazi and Misratah). In 2006, the Az Zawiyah District was estimated to have a population of about 291,000, half of which or more was concentrated in the city. Az Zawiyah has a university named the Seventh of April University which was founded in 1988. There also an oil field nearby the city and Az Zawiyah has one of the two most important oil refineries in Libya.

2011 Libyan uprising

Main article: Battle of Az Zawiyah

Following the 2011 Libyan uprising, the city is reported to be under control of the Libyan opposition and not the government of Muammar al-Gaddafi. However, as of the 24th February, fighting apparently continues in the city. The same day anti-Gaddafi forces repelled an attack.  In a phone call specifically aimed at its residents, Gaddafi said the protesters were young people that had been duped into "destruction and sabotage" with drugs and alcohol.

Tags:National Front for the Salvation of Libya, National Transitional Council, National Conference for the Libyan Opposition, Battle of Misurata, International reactions to the 2011 Libyan uprisin, Muhammad as-Senussi, Libyan Airlines,‎ Benina International Airpor, Tripoli International Airport, Timeline of 2011 Libyan uprising, 2011 Libyan uprising, The Battle of Az Zawiyah,  Libyan Opposition Fights Pro-Gadhafi

(source:wikipedia)