Latest update: 30/07/2008 

- Libya - oil - OPEC - Switzerland


Libya frees Swiss prisoners
Libya frees Swiss prisoners
Libya released two Swiss nationals after they spent 10 days in detention in response to the arrest of Muammar Kadhafi's son Hannibal for assault in Switzerland. The pair are presently at the Swiss embassy (photo) but cannot leave the country.

Two Swiss nationals detained in Libya after the arrest in Switzerland of Moamer Kadhafi's son have been released, but they cannot leave the country, the Swiss foreign ministry said Wednesday.
   
They now are in the Swiss embassy in Tripoli "in good health" following their release on bail Tuesday, 10 days after they were taken into custody, the ministry said in a statement.
   
The two Swiss -- one of them an employee of engineering group ABB -- were detained after Hannibal Kadhafi, 32, and his wife were arrested in a Geneva hotel on July 15 on suspicion of assaulting members of hotel staff.
   
The Kadhafis, who denied the allegations, were released on bail two days later, as Libya suspended oil shipments to Switzerland, stopped issuing visas to Swiss nationals, and shut the Tripoli offices of Nestle and ABB.
   
Despite their release, the foreign ministry said Wednesday the two Swiss nationals have not been granted authorisation to leave Libya.
   
"Discussions between Switzerland and Libya are continuing at the diplomatic level to overcome tensions in bilateral relations," the Swiss federal foreign affairs department said.

Related Content
Close