Government protests against Libyan sanctions

The foreign ministry has formally complained to Libya against retaliatory measures following the arrest last week in Geneva of one of Moammar Gaddafi's sons.

It said that since last Thursday Gaddafi’s government had detained Swiss citizens in Libya, demanded the closure of Swiss firms present in the country and recalled some of its diplomatic representatives to Switzerland.

Libya has also stopped processing visa requests from Swiss, and on Wednesday announced that the airline, Swiss, would have to reduce its flights to Tripoli from three to one a week.

Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey protested against the moves in a telephone call with her Libyan counterpart on Tuesday. A Swiss delegation is expected to hold talks in Tripoli later on Wednesday with the Libyan authorities.

The moves against Swiss interests came a week after “Hannibal” Gaddafi was arrested with his wife, Aline, at a Geneva five-star hotel last week and spent two nights in a court cell.

The couple, who were released on bail and have left the country, were charged by a magistrate with inflicting physical injuries and using threats and force against two of their staff, who lodged a formal complaint.