Swiss: No to Gaddafi and co
2010-02-14 17:00
Tripoli - Muammar Gaddafi and his family are among 188 Libyan figures barred from visiting Switzerland, according to a decision made by Bern amid a diplomatic row, a Libyan newspaper said on Sunday.
The private daily Oea, which is close to the Libyan leader's prominent son Seif al-Islam, carried the report quoting an unidentified "high-ranking" official.
"Swiss authorities have taken a decision prohibiting 188 Libyan figures from entering Switzerland," the official was quoted as saying on Oea's website.
The report said among those blacklisted were lawmakers, people from the prime minister's office and "military, security and economic officials".
There was no immediate reaction from Switzerland.
But the Libyan official warned in Oea that the decision would "undermine Swiss interests" and that "if it is not scrapped, (Tripoli) will respond with reciprocal measures".
The newspaper did not say, however, when the decision was taken or when it was to take effect.
Servants complained
Libya has been embroiled in a diplomatic row with Switzerland since July 2008 after the brief arrest in Geneva of another Gaddafi son, Hannibal, and his wife when two hotel servants complained he had mistreated them.
Justice authorities in Libya later barred two Swiss businessman from leaving the country and put them on trial for two separate cases of overstaying their visas and illegal business activities.
The pair, Max Goeldi and Rashid Hamdani, have been holed up at the Swiss embassy since July 2008.
Earlier this month a Libyan appeal court reduced Goeldi's 16-month jail sentence for overstaying his visa to four months while Hamdani's sentence on similar charges was dropped in January.
They were also both put on trial for alleged illegal business activities. The case against Hamdani was dismissed while Goeldi was ordered to pay an $800 fine.
- SAPA