- Assault charges against son of Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, have been dropped. Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife were arrested and freed on bail in July following an assault claim by two maids at a five star hotel in Geneva.
A lawyer for the pair said they were properly compensated but no details were given. Libya had initially denied the allegations and demanded an apology from the Swiss, sparking a diplomatic spat.
In July Swiss government has protested against Libya's retaliatory measures to the arrest and detention of president Gaddafi's son, which led to closure of Swiss companies ABB and Nestle including arrests of Swiss staff and throwing diplomats out of the country.
Swiss Foreign Ministry blamed Libyan leader for launching a single-minded campaign against Swiss interests in general in retaliation to the arrest of Hannibal al-Gaddafi and his heavily pregnant wife.
"Since 17 July, 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.
A lawyer for the maids, Francois Membrez, said: "They have been recognised as victims and their sufferings have been taken into account. They have also received a temporary humanitarian residence permit in Switzerland.
In 2005, Hannibal was detained in Paris for allegedly assaulting his companion in a hotel. On several occasion, the police was stopping him for over speeding at Avenue des Champs-Élysées, known in France as the most beautiful avenue in the world.
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.
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