Gaddafi sitting on 143 tonnes of gold in Libya

http://www.smh.com.au/world/gaddafi-sitting-on-143-tonnes-of-gold-in-libya-report-20110322-1c4cj.html

Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi is reportedly sitting on a 143.8-tonne $6.4-billion pot of gold - enough to pay mercenaries to fight for him for years.


The gold bullion - held by the Libyan central bank and controlled by Colonel Gaddafi - is among the 25 largest reserves in the world, the Financial Times reported, citing the International Monetary Fund.

They provide the 68-year-old Libyan strongman a lifeline after billions of assets held offshore were frozen by the United States and the 27 member states of the European Union.