**Switzerland is ready to lift a travel ban on some Libyan citizens in order to ease tensions in a row that has drawn in much of Europe, officials say.**The Swiss government hopes that Libya would reciprocate by ending its ban against travellers from Switzerland and 24 other countries.
Last year Switzerland denied entry to nearly 200 prominent Libyans.
In retaliation, Libya stopped issuing visas to citizens of all countries in Europe’s Schengen border-free area.
The diplomatic row between Switzerland and Libya began in July 2008 when one of the sons of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was arrested briefly in Geneva.
The European Union is mediating in an attempt to end the dispute.
EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton said in a statement: “The EU expects that the Libyan authorities will react in positive way and lift the restrictive measures on EU citizens.”