Swiss aiming for ‘rapid’ end to Libyan fuel stand-off

GENEVA – Switzerland is seeking a rapid resolution to a diplomatic crisis with Libya, a spokeswoman for its economy ministry said yesterday, stressing that there is no risk of fuel shortages. The Libyan national maritime transport company said early yesterday that it will halt fuel supplies in reprisals for the brief detention of a son of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi last week in Geneva.

A joint statement from Libya’s port authority and the company – which handles nearly all its oil exports and lists Hannibal Kadhafi, 32, as its official “adviser” – also warned of “new escalatory measures” against Switzerland and demanded that Bern “close within the next few hours the case it fabricated” against Kadhafi’s son.

The Swiss government spokeswoman said the authorities were “concerned at the retaliatory measures,” but hoped the situation would calm “rapidly.” “Diplomatic exchanges are under way right now,” she stated, adding that the supply of fuel is “assured” and underlining that “sources of supply can be widened”.

She said prices at pumps remained “normal”. Hannibal was arrested in a Geneva hotel on July 15 along with his wife after being accused of assaulting some of their staff. The couple were freed on bail two days later. Libya’s announcement to halt oil supplies to Switzerland comes as an official Swiss delegation was in Tripoli to try to contain the crisis. Oil prices rose slightly on Thursday in the wake of the statement from Tripoli.