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| Swiss man leaves embassy in Libya | Swiss man leaves embassy in Libya |
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| One of two Swiss businessmen sheltering at Switzerland's embassy in Tripoli amid a long-running dispute has left the building, witnesses say. | One of two Swiss businessmen sheltering at Switzerland's embassy in Tripoli amid a long-running dispute has left the building, witnesses say. |
| Libya has said the businessman, Rachid Hamdani, is free to leave the country. | Libya has said the businessman, Rachid Hamdani, is free to leave the country. |
| But it is demanding the handover of a second businessman, Max Goeldi, who is accused of illegal business practices. | But it is demanding the handover of a second businessman, Max Goeldi, who is accused of illegal business practices. |
| Libyan authorities reportedly set a Monday deadline for Mr Goeldi's handover and surrounded the embassy as the deadline approached. | Libyan authorities reportedly set a Monday deadline for Mr Goeldi's handover and surrounded the embassy as the deadline approached. |
| Swiss television quoted Mr Hamdani's lawyer as saying that after leaving the embassy in the Libyan capital he was heading by car for Tunisia. | |
| Mr Hamdani was cleared last month of charges of overstaying his visa, while Mr Goeldi has been accused of operating without a business license and violating immigration rules. | Mr Hamdani was cleared last month of charges of overstaying his visa, while Mr Goeldi has been accused of operating without a business license and violating immigration rules. |
| The two were allowed to stay at the Swiss embassy during their trial. | |
| Analysts suggest the charges against the two were brought in retaliation for the arrest of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son Hannibal and his wife, Aline Skaf, in Geneva in July 2008. | Analysts suggest the charges against the two were brought in retaliation for the arrest of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son Hannibal and his wife, Aline Skaf, in Geneva in July 2008. |
| They were accused of assaulting two servants while staying at a luxury hotel in the Swiss city, though the charges were later dropped. | They were accused of assaulting two servants while staying at a luxury hotel in the Swiss city, though the charges were later dropped. |
| Libya retaliated by cancelling oil supplies, withdrawing billions of dollars from Swiss banks, refusing visas to Swiss citizens and recalling some of its diplomats. | |
| In the same month that the Gaddafis were arrested, Libyan authorities detained Mr Hamdani, who works for a construction company, and Mr Goeldi, the manager of an engineering firm. | |
| The two were later released on bail and went to stay at the Swiss embassy in Tripoli, before being convicted in absentia in December. |