Swiss “very aware of courage” of Libyan protestors “based on experience”
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - The Swiss government Monday 21 February suspended preparatory work on the tribunal it agreed to with Libya in order to ensure that two Swiss men held hostage by the Libyan government in 2010 would be freed. The announcement came as part of a message strongly condemning the Libyan government for its “targeted violence” marked by an “extreme repression” against its own citizens.
An arbitrator, Philippe Kirsch, was named only six days ago to oversee the tribunal, a sign that the long-stalled tribunal could soon get underway. It was created as a condition by Libya to free two Swiss hostages in 2010 who were taken, it is widely believed in Switzerland, in retaliation for the arrest in Geneva of Hannibal Qadaffi, one of the sons of Libya’s leader.
Swiss told to leave Libya if they can
Switzerland also told its citizens to leave Libya if possible and discouraged Swiss travellers from going to Libya, saying the outcome of the protests is uncertain. Libyan hospitals are overwhelmed and they are short of blood for necessary transfusions, according to all available evidence, Bern said in a Monday statement.
“Given its experience with the regime in Tripoli, Switzerland is very aware of the courage shown by the men and women who have taken to the streets in Libya to cry for their democratic rights,” the Swiss government notes.
Forty-six Swiss citizens are registered with the Swiss embassy in Tripoli, most of them dual nationals, and the government says it is in close contact with each of them.
AFP reports air space over Libya closed
Late Monday an Austrian army officer told news agency AFP that air space over Libya has been closed (not confirmed).
International sports, football
Update 19:42 Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Franck Ribéry will not play in the Champions League final, the Swiss-based court, Cas, ruled late Monday. The Bayern Munich’s French player Franck Ribéry was in Lausanne with the club’s president, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and lawyers, Monday 17 May to plead with Cas (the international Court of Arbitration for Sport) for his football match suspension to be limited to one game, time off that he’s already served. He was given a three-match suspension for a dangerous tackle against Lisandro in a match with Lyons.
The tribunal said it will issue an explanation within a few days. It is the final court of appeals in sport.
Chateau de Bethusy, Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - French tennis player Richard Gasquet took part in a seven-hour review of his suspension by the Court of Arbitration for Sport Tuesday 10 November. The review follows demands by Wada (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the International Tennis Federation for his penalty to be increased to a one-year ban.
The review came on the day when Wada celebrated its tenth birthday, with director general David Howman saying “All over the world, awareness is much higher today than it was ten years ago . . . Global anti-doping efforts in general have become smarter and much more sophisticated with experience.”
