New talks with Libya take place in Davos

Talks to resolve a six-month dispute between Switzerland and Libya have continued in Davos but the two sides are giving different information on the outcome.

Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, a son of Libyan ruler Moammar Gaddafi, told the French-language newspaper Le Matin that he wanted to “restore friendly relations” between the two countries.

The comments followed meetings on Thursday and Friday with Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual summit.

But in the interview, published on Friday, Gaddafi said Switzerland had “admitted mistakes” over the arrest of another Gaddafi son, Hannibal, in Geneva last year.

“The Swiss have recognised that the arrest in Geneva of my brother Hannibal was inappropriate and pointless,” he told the newspaper, adding that the North African country wanted “punishment for those responsible”.

Gaddafi said Switzerland had made new proposals which his father and his government would study.

“That’s the point of view of Mr Gaddafi,” foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Philippe Jutzi told swissinfo on Saturday afternoon. “From the Swiss side, there is absolutely nothing new.”

Jutzi said the foreign ministry was not in a position to elaborate further on the nature of the discussions.

Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife were arrested in July last year following complaints of mistreatment made by two of their staff.