Before Gadhafi's coup in 1969, Libya was a constitutional monarchy with a parliament, constitution and king.

NPR: Storming Ministries, Libya's Militias Put Pressure

This has been made possible by the unique decision of Gerry Rawlings, who seized power in a military coup in 1981, to introduce a constitutional democracy some 12 years later.

BBC: News | Africa | Rays of light in Africa

General Raul Isaias Baduel turned events around in Venezuela when he publicly denounced the December 2, 2007 Referendum on Constitutional Reform as an attempt by Chavez to carry a coup d'etat and perpetuate himself in power.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Supporting the forces of democracy

Once Mauritania's Constitutional Court approves, the old regime in new clothes under the original coup-maker is expected to repair its relations with the AU, the European Union (EU) and the United States, as well as the World Bank and the IMF.

ECONOMIST: A coup-maker becomes a civilian president

When Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court dissolved parliament just before the runoff election, many activists accused the military of orchestrating a soft coup, but the few calls for mass protest were largely ignored.

WSJ: Egyptian Opposition Finds Unity Against Military

The African Union and the 15-country Southern African Development Community, an influential regional club, as well as the European Union and the United States, denounced a recent coup in Madagascar by Andry Rajoelina and said they would work to restore the country's constitutional order.

ECONOMIST: Politics this week