Libya to hold 2nd trial for Swiss businessmen

A Libyan official says two Swiss businessmen sentenced to 16 months in jail for violating labor laws will now face a second trial for illegal economic activities.

A Libyan official says two Swiss businessmen sentenced to 16 months in jail for violating labor laws will now face a second trial for illegal economic activities. The official said on Wednesday the new trial was scheduled for Dec 15. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media.

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The two were detained in July 2008 on alleged visa violations _ days after Swiss police arrested Hannibal Gadhafi and his wife for allegedly beating up their servants in a Geneva hotel. They were tried in absentia on Tuesday.

Gadhafi's arrest caused a diplomatic tiff between the two countries. Libya called on Switzerland not to link the two incidents.