Libya slams Swiss travel ban as 'crime'

(TRIPOLI) - A Libyan government spokesman on Thursday slammed Switzerland's alleged travel ban on 188 Libyans, including the country's leader Moamer Kadhafi, as a "crime."

"We regard the compiling of this list as a mean policy aimed at diverting attention from the agreement" signed by Tripoli and Bern to defuse the crisis sparked by the brief arrest of Kadhafi's son Hannibal in Geneva in July 2008, Mohammed Baayu told AFP.

The Swiss blacklist, which Baayu branded a "crime," names 188 Libyans, including Moamer Kadhafi and his family, according to Libyan media.

"How can you describe such a list that includes the name of a child less three years old?" he asked, refering to Hannibal Khadafi's son.

Bern has not confirmed the existence of the list, saying only that it has had "a restrictive visa policy" towards Libya since autumn 2009 in protest at Tripoli's refusal to release two Swiss citizens held in Libya since July 2008.

Hannibal Kadhafi and his pregnant wife Aline were arrested at a luxury Geneva and detained for two days when two hotel workers complained they had mistreated them.

The incident sparked outrage from the Kadhafi family and provoked a diplomatic row.

Baayu said the Swiss confederation "can bring this crisis to an end by implementing the agreement signed on August 20 (2009) in Tripoli by the respectful Swiss president, but which was rejected by the canton of Geneva."

The accord requires from Switzerland "apologies, compensation and the trial" of those responsible for the arrest of Hannibal Kadhafi, the spokesman added.

The Swiss and Libyan foreign ministers were due to meet in the Spanish capital on Thursday to try to resolve the crisis, according to Switzerland's foreign ministry.