Libya gained independence on December 24, 1951. Prior to this, Libya had been under Italian occupation from 1911 to 1943 and subsequently placed under British and French administration until its independence. After World War II, the United Nations passed a resolution in 1949 that called for the independence of Libya and set a timeline for the transition to self-rule. Finally, on December 24, 1951, Libya was officially declared an independent kingdom, with King Idris as its head of state.