Switzerland ordered the freezing of all assets and wealth of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi held in the country. This step is taken to prevent misuse of funds by Gaddafi in the middle of the deteriorating security situation in Libya.
As reported by the page the Associated Press, Thursday, February 24, 2011, the Swiss government issued an order this by
looking at the situation in Libya is not improved. Reportedly, security forces attacked the demonstrators. According to the Italian government claims, the victims were killed in Libya reached at least 1,000 people.
No mention is how much wealth Gaddafi in Libya, or any property masihkah Gaddafi in the country. Earlier in 2008, the Gaddafi government withdraw their assets worth U.S. $ 6 billion (Rp53 trillion), when relations between the two countries deteriorated following the arrest of Gaddafi's son, Hannibal, in a hotel in Geneva related to criminal cases.
Reportedly, the Libyan government assets abroad reached U.S. $ 70 billion (Rp618 billion), thanks to its oil and gas supplies are abundant. Most funds are dominated and controlled spending by Gaddafi and his family are believed to have investments across Europe, including Italy, Britain and the Netherlands.
This is not the first time the Swiss government to freeze assets of Middle Eastern leaders in the midst of turmoil. Previous assets of former President of Tunisia Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali and the deposed president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, in Switzerland are also frozen. But this step was taken after the two leaders of the country's ousted or resign from his position.
It is said, this step is a sign Swiss international community pressure against Gaddafi become more frequent. Gaddafi wants international pressure to stop the violence and that he addressed to the opponents of the government demonstrators.
