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Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Mouammar Qadaffi, Libya’s leader, is out to “take apart” Switzerland, Swiss public radio and television are reporting today. The result will be to make it far more difficult for a meeting between the leaders of the two countries to take place. Two Swiss men have been detained by Libya for a year, following an incident where Qadaffi’s son Hannibal was arrested in Geneva, 15 July 2008.

The Swiss media group’s conclusion is based on an analysis by Hasni Abidi, director of the Study and Research Center for the Arab and Mediterranean World in Geneva, of recent declarations by the Libyan leader. Qadaffi at the recent G8 meeting in Italy repeated earlier accusations that Switzerland is a country that funds terrorists and hides the money of its sponsors. TSR notes that Colonel Qadaffi’s remarks went almost unnoticed, but they are now making their way through the Arab world media and there are fears in Switzerland that this could have negative repercussions.

Ed. note: Qadaffi’s speeches were in fact widely reported by African media in English, but the accusations against Switzerland may have appeared pale compared to many of his other remarks or in the larger context of accusing former colonial power Italy of plundering Africa, where Qadaffi is now the longest-reigning leader.

Swissinfo Friday 10 July ran a lengthy report on the history of the political crisis, which pits Switzerland directly against another nation, it says, a rare situation for the neutral country. The report is critical of Switzerland’s diplomtic efforts.

Swissinfo is also part of the SSR public broadcasting group, along with TSR, RSR and English station WRS.