Maltese workers in Libya extend stay

Libya's refusal to allow travellers from Schengen areas to enter the country has led Maltese workers to extend their stay in the north African state for as long as their visas allow them, fearing the employees who normally come out to replace them may be barred entry.

Maltese embassy officials were informed by Maltese employers in a meeting on Sunday of the precarious situation they were facing after Libya retaliated against Switzerland's visa blacklist of Libyan nationals.

The meeting was organised by Maltese Ambassador to Libya George Cassar, who gave leading Maltese employers in Libya a briefing about the latest developments, government sources said.

Mr Cassar told them that hardly anyone from Schengen area countries, including Malta, was now being allowed into Libya, irrespective of the type of visa they hold.

Employers agreed to pass on a list of employees currently working in the north African state to embassy officials for better monitoring of the situation. A list of Maltese workers who are supposed to travel to Libya will also be passed on.

Malta has important trade and business relations with Libya and between 2004 and 2008 exported some €341 million worth of goods and services to that country.

The ongoing spat between Libya and Switzerland started when the Alpine state blacklisted a group of around 180 senior Libyan officials, including members of the Gaddafi family. Switzerland is a member of the Schengen area and its decision means no Schengen country may issue visas to those people.

However, the dispute goes back to 2008 when the Libyan leader's son, Hannibal Gaddafi was arrested with his wife in Geneva on allegations they mistreated hotel employees.

The charges were later dropped but Libya was incensed after pictures of Mr Gaddafi in custody appeared in the Swiss press.

Two Swiss businessmen were arrested in Libya four days after the Geneva incident. One of the men was released last week while another is serving a reduced jail term for being in breach of immigration rules.

Hannibal Gaddafi yesterday met the detained Swiss businessman in a Tripoli prison where he is being held.

They spoke in private but, in a brief comment to journalists, the businessman Max Goeldi said he hoped Hannibal would "use his influence" to help him leave Libya.

Last week Libya's leader called for a jihad, or holy war, against Switzerland and a Muslim economic boycott of the country.