October 23, 2009 - The Daily Star - Swiss accuses Libya of Kidnapping 2 businessmen

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Friday, October 23, 2009
Switzerland accuses Libya of kidnapping two businessmen


By Agence France Presse (AFP)

GENEVA: Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey on Thursday accused Libya of “kidnapping” two Swiss businessmen who have been prevented from leaving for a year in a diplomatic row between the countries.
The two went missing last month after they left the Swiss Embassy to undergo a medical check-up at the request of Libyan authorities, and Tripoli said they were being held in a “safe location.” Switzerland “has not received any proof of life after the two Swiss [citizens] were kidnapped by Libyan authorities and hidden in an unknown location, in flagrant violation” of consular conventions, Calmy-Rey told journalists. “The government had protested very strongly against the abduction, she added.

The spat erupted in July 2008 after police in Geneva arrested one of the sons of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.