By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 20 December 2014:
The Swiss Ambassador’s residence in Tripoli’s Ben Ashour area is reported to have been attacked . . .[restrict]and partially looted yesterday. The building was unoccupied at the time; like all other European diplomats apart from the Italians and the Hungarians, the ambassador and his staff are not based in the country at present.
The attackers are said to have fled the scene when security forces arrived to secure the residence.
There are conflicting versions about the motive for the attack. One is that it was a simple case of robbery thwarted by Libya Dawn forces. The other is that it was stage-manged by Libya Dawn members, angry at Switzerland’s declaration of support earlier during the week for Algeria’s policies on Mali and Libya.
On Tuesday in Algiers, the Swiss Special Envoy for the Sahel, Didier Berberat, was reported stating his country’s full support for Algiers’ efforts to being about peace in both places. Algeria, with its firm anti-Islamist line, is not viewed favorably by Libya Dawn and its allies.
Meanwhile, the Hassi administration’s Foreign Ministry has issued a statement demanding that embassies which have moved moved elsewhere – mainly to Tunis – as well as foreign companies return to Tripoli and resume their activities.
Despite predictions from Hassi supporters that the Europeans and others are about to recognise him and his administration, the call is viewed as unlikely to have any effect. [/restrict]
