Libya's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday advised its citizens not to travel to Switzerland as it feared “repressive measures” after a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was arrested in Geneva. A row erupted between energy-importing Switzerland and OPEC member Libya over the arrest on July 15 of Hannibal Gaddafi, who together with his wife was charged with ill-treatment of two domestic employees. Gaddafi and his wife, who were freed on bail pending any trial after two days in detention, deny the charges, his lawyer has said. “Given the arbitrary measures of the Swiss authorities against Arab and Libyan citizens, the lack of respect towards them and their humiliation ... the (ministry) advises Libyan citizens not to travel to Switzerland to avoid such repressive measures,” the ministry said in a 5-line statement. The move follows a series of measures announced by Libya targeting Swiss interests. Last week, Tripoli has said it halted oil shipments to Switzerland and suspended issuing of visas to Swiss nationals.
