Switzerland insists bilateral solution to crisis with Libya

GENEVA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss government said on Monday that it would try to resolve its ongoing diplomatic crisis with Libya through bilateral negotiations without help from a third-party mediator.

Talks are now continuing with the "greatest discretion," a foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the official Swissinfo website.

Over the weekend, Swiss President Pascal Couchepin said France and Italy had both formally offered to help resolve the crisis, which began with the temporary arrest of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son Hanibal in Geneva on July 15.

Hannibal Gaddafi was charged by a Swiss magistrate with inflicting physical injuries and using threats and force against two of their staff.

According to the spokesman, two Swiss citizens are now being held in Libyan custody on immigration violations. Both were arrested one week ago.

Libya has also demanded Switzerland apologize for arresting Hannibal Gaddafi, and the country's shipping company announced an oil boycott against Switzerland last week.