Days after the 1980 Liberian coup d'état that overthrew the government of William R. Tolbert Jr., the Libyan government under Muammar Gaddafi recognized the government of coup leader Samuel Doe, the first African country to do so. Doe was also given an invitation by Gaddafi to visit the Libyan capital of Tripoli, much to the concern of the United States. However this diplomatic cordiality by the Libyan regime was met with skepticism and suspicion by Doe who surmised that Gaddafi was attempting to bring Liberia into Libya's sphere of influence as part of his Pan-African ambitions. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Moose reportedly flew to Liberia in a chartered jet with $10 million in cash after the coup to urge Doe not to turn to Libya for financial assistance. The Libyan embassy in Monrovia was closed down and its diplomats expelled.