[Published: Monday March 01 2010]
UN slams Libya anti-Swiss 'jihad'
Geneva, 01 March-(ANA)-A top UN official has condemned as "inadmissible" Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's call for a jihad, or holy war, against Switzerland.
"Such declarations on the part of the head of state are inadmissible in international relations," said Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the UN chief in Geneva.
Col Gaddafi criticised a Swiss vote against the building of minarets and urged Muslims to boycott the country.
Libya and Switzerland are embroiled in a long-running diplomatic row.
The dispute dates back to 2008, when one of Mr Gaddafi's sons was arrested in Geneva, accused of assaulting two servants.
A Swiss foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment on the jihad call.
The Libyan leader made his comments while speaking at a meeting in Benghazi to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
"Let us wage jihad against Switzerland, Zionism and foreign aggression," he said.
"Any Muslim in any part of the world who works with Switzerland is an apostate, is against Muhammad, God and the Koran."
Mr Ordzhonikidze, director-general of the UN mission in Geneva, said the UN's security in Switzerland was very professional and well-prepared for any incident. He was responding to questions from journalists about Mr Gaddafi's "jihad" call. (ANA)
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