Now Colonel Gaddafi wants to 'abolish' Switzerland

Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi is set to ask the United Nations to 'abolish' Switzerland and share the land among its neighbouring countries.

The eccentric dictator has filed a motion with the U.N. saying the Alpine state should be wiped off the map and split among France, Italy and Germany.

Gaddafi is set to present his bizarre plan when Libya takes over the year-long presidency of the U.N. general Assembly on September 15.

He first mentioned his idea at the G8 summit in Italy in July. 'Switzerland is a world mafia and not a state,' he said.

'It is formed of an Italian community that should return to Italy, another German community that should return to Germany, and a third French community that should return to France.'

The Swiss Foreign Ministry described it as a single-minded campaign against Swiss interests.

Swiss MP Christa Markwalder, told the Swiss TV news programme 10 vor 10 this week: 'We are concerned that Libya will attempt to use its year-long presidency of the U.N. General Assembly to damage Switzerland's reputation.'

Relations between Switzerland and Libya crumbled after Gaddafi's son Hannibal, 33, and his pregnant wife were arrested in Geneva a year ago accused of assaulting a hotel chamber maid.

Two days after the arrest the couple were freed on bail after the complaint against them was dropped, but Gaddafi still hit back by withdrawing five billion dollars from Swiss banks, closing Swiss businesses and arresting Swiss nationals in Libya.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice yesterday challenged the Libyan leader to behave himself during his upcoming first-ever U.N. visit.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice

Warning: U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice challenged the Libyan leader to behave himself during his first-ever U.N. visit

Gaddafi is among the world leaders expected to attend the 192-nation U.N. General Assembly and possibly other high-level meetings in late September, including a U.S.-sponsored session on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament to be held by the 15-nation Security Council and chaired by President Barack Obama.

Rice, speaking as the incoming president of the U.N. Security Council this month, cited broad U.S. anger over Libya's enthusiastic homecoming for Abdelbaset Al Megrahi, the convicted Lockerbie bomber who was released from a Scottish prison on compassionate grounds last month.

'It goes without saying that virtually every American has been offended by the reception accorded to Mr Megrahi in Libya upon his return from the U.K.,' said Rice.

Gaddafi, elected to head the African Union this year, has been on a multi-year quest to repair his international image.

But United States Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, said on Wednesday that the forthcoming UN meeting would be devoted solely to disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

She added: 'It would be irrelevant and misplaced for any head of state to talk about unrelated subjects.'

The Libyan strongman, who celebrated his 40th year as ruler of the oil-rich North African country on Monday, has denounced terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

He is known for hours-long, rambling speeches, but Susan Rice said such rhetoric wouldn't be tolerated.

She said that most nations have assured her their leader's remarks will be brief. 'We expect no less from President Gaddafi should he come,' she added.

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