Libya has denied entry for Europeans after a dispute between Switzerland and Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, the Arab-language Asharq Al-Awsat daily said on Tuesday.
Switzerland has recently denied entry to 180 senior Libyan officials, including Qaddafi. Tripoli responded by suspending visas for the 25 countries within the Schengen visa-free travel zone that includes Switzerland, the paper said.
The measure concerns all European Union residents "irrespective of their position," the paper said, citing Libyan officials. This means Libya will not issue visas to tourists or businessmen, as well as top diplomats from Europe.
Britain and Ireland, although EU members, are not part of Schengen.
Switzerland's row with Libya goes back to July 2008, when Qaddafi's son Hannibal and his wife Aline were arrested in Geneva. They were released on bail after spending two days in custody following a hotel employee complaint of mistreatment by the couple.
CAIRO, February 16 (RIA Novosti)
