- The Swiss government has protested against Libya's "retaliatory measures" to the arrest and detention of Muammar al-Qaddafi's son.
Apart from ordering Swiss companies ABB and Nestle to close Libya operations, Libyan security have also arrested Swiss staff and threw diplomats out of the country.
Swiss Foreign Ministry blamed the Libyan leader for launching a single-minded campaign against Swiss interests in general in retaliation to the last week arrest of Hannibal al-Qaddafi and his heavily pregnant wife. The couple, who were accused of assaulting two staff at a luxury hotel in Geneva on 15 July, face charges of bodily harm, threatening behaviour and coercion. They have denied any wrongdoing.
The development has prompted demonstrations in the capital Tripoli, with angry demonstrators calling for the North African country to cut off oil exports to Switzerland. Libya has been the biggest supplier of crude oil to Switzerland. The company responsible for oil shipments is run by Hannibal.
In a statement handed to the Swiss ambassador, angry protesters described the arrest as an "odious crime" and urged Libya to withdraw its deposits from Swiss banks if the Swiss authorities have failed to apologise for the arrest.
Swiss authorities have denied mistreatment of Hannibal and his wife who were released on bail two days after their arrest.
Libya has recalled its Swiss envoy and suspended issuing of visas to Swiss citizens. Besides, air links between Switzerland and Libya have been reduced.
The Swiss government had sent a delegation to Tripoli to convey explanations on the arrest and "prevent a crisis between the two countries."
Also, Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey communicated her country's firm protest to her Libyan counterpart Abderrahman Shalgan. However, Swiss government want to avoid the issue from worsening.
"Since July 17, the Libyan authorities have taken a number of worrying retaliatory measures," Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement, ordering Swiss citizens from traveling to the North African country until further notice.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español