Libya issues ultimatum for surrender of Swiss man

Libya has said it would retaliate if Switzerland did not hand over a convicted businessman being sheltered in its embassy by midday (1000 GMT) on Monday, the official news agency reported.                                           

Foreign minister Moussa Koussa summoned European Union ambassadors on Sunday night to hand them the ultimatum, Jana news agency said.                                           

The agency quoted the minister as saying that by giving Swiss businessman Max Goeldi refuge in its embassy in Tripoli, Switzerland was in violation of international conventions on diplomatic immunity.                                           

"Procedures will be taken in the event that the embassy does not implement what is required of it by the deadline," the news agency reported. No details were given of what action the Libyan authorities plan to take.                                           

The Libyan authorities want Goeldi to serve a four-month prison sentence after a court found him guilty of immigration offences. His case has been at the centre of a diplomatic row between Libya and Switzerland.