Women who made the headlines in 2011

By Oscar Wang and Li Shen

China.org.cn, January 1, 2012

The past year was one of mixed fortunes for the women who hit the headlines. Some, like Kate Middleton and Li Na had cause to celebrate, while others, like Gloria Arroyo and Christine Lagarde faced stern challenges. Let's see which other women made a splash in 2011.

  Gaddafi's female bodyguards

[File photo]

The women who were part of former Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi's elite team of female bodyguards known as the Amazonian Guard, have attracted great media attention since civil war broke out in the country. The elite team of forty virgins was personally hand-picked by Gaddafi and trained in the use of firearms and martial arts at a special academy before entering service. It is reported that Gaddafi employed female bodyguards because he believed that Arab gunmen would have difficulty firing at women. Gaddafi also once proclaimed: "Women should be trained for combat, so that they do not become easy prey for their enemies." Finally, after more than 40 years, Gaddafi himself became the prey for his enemies and, following his death, his elite female guards have nowhere to go.

 http://www.china.org.cn/world/2012-01/01/content_24300754.htm

Full coverage: 

• Gaddafi's female bodyguards

• Power transition in Libya