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Trials of hostages in Libya postponed

The trials of Max Göldi and Rachid Hamdani, two Swiss nationals held in Tripoli since July 2008, have been put back by two weeks.

The Swiss foreign ministry said this weekend that the trial of Göldi, set for January 2, would now begin on January 16, and that of Hamdani, set for January 3, had been rearranged for January 17.

Göldi and Hamdani, who work for Swiss companies, have been prevented from leaving Libya since July 2008. On December 2, they were sentenced to 16 months in prison by a Libyan court for visa irregularities and tax evasion.

Hamdani’s lawyer said his client didn’t appear in court on Sunday, prompting the postponement. Attorney Saleh al-Zahif provided no details. On Saturday, Göldi didn’t appear in court for his trial.

The two men were taken into custody in July 2008 shortly after Geneva police arrested Hannibal Gaddafi, a son of Libyan ruler Moammar Gaddafi, and his wife on charges they abused their domestic staff at a city hotel.

swissinfo.ch and agencies

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