: Leaked cables reveal Gaddafi's iron grip on corrupt regime

 Muammar Gaddafi has toyed with his rivals and family in a skillful game of power politics that has allowed him to skim multimillion-dollar contracts to enrich allies and retain power, according to leaked diplomatic cables from the United States.

Despite carefully cultivating an image of an aloof 'philosopher-king' above the political fray, Colonel Gaddafi has remained firmly in charge of a regime which has a stake 'in anything worth buying, selling or owning', according to a 2009 cable released by WikiLeaks.

Painting a picture of a profoundly corrupt regime centred on the cult of Colonel Gaddafi's personality, US Ambassador Gene Cretz said in one cable that the aging autocrat personally reviewed all contracts involving Libyan government funds worth more than $200m"