Africa News

Switzerland blocks Gaddafi assets

Feb 24, 2011, 18:15 GMT

Geneva - Switzerland's federal government on Thursday blocked all assets in the country owned by Libyan leader Moammer Gaddafi and his family.

Andre Simonazzi, the spokesman for the Swiss Federal Council, told the German Press Agency dpa the move was made with immediate effect.

It is not yet known if Gaddafi has any assets in Switzerland, but the government will investigate the possibility, Simonazzi added.

In 2008, a row broke out between Bern and Tripoli after the son of the Libyan leader, Hannibal Gaddafi, was arrested for abusing his servants at an upscale Geneva hotel.

At the time, the Libyans said they withdrew their assets from Swiss banks and threatened the country with a holy war, or jihad.

Switzerland has also blocked any assets owned by former Tunisian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and ousted Egyptian president Hosny Mubarak.

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