Geneva -- Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey on Thursday accused Libya of "kidnapping" two Swiss businessmen who have been prevented from leaving Tripoli for a year in a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.

The two went missing in September after they left the Swiss embassy to undergo a medical check-up at the request of Libyan authorities, and Tripoli said they were being held in a "safe location."

Switzerland "has not received any proof of life after the two Swiss (citizens) were kidnapped by Libyan authorities and hidden in an unknown location, in flagrant violation" of consular rules, Calmy-Rey told journalists.

The government had "protested very strongly against the abduction," she added.

The Swiss government said after a cabinet meeting that Tripoli repeatedly failed to honour pledges made in recent weeks to try to solve the 14-month dispute, despite a high-profile apology by President Hans-Rudolf Merz.

The spat erupted in July 2008 after police in Geneva arrested one of the sons of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, Hannibal, and his wife in a luxury hotel over allegations that the couple mistreated two servants.

Swiss police detained the Kadhafis for two days, sparking outrage from Libyan authorities and several retaliatory measures against Switzerland although the charges were dropped.

The Swiss businessmen in Tripoli, who have not been named, were also prevented from leaving the country in 2008 after they were accused of immigration offences.

Merz flew to Tripoli in August and apologised to the Libyan people over the Geneva incident.

His controversial apology was presented in exchange for the swift return of the two businessmen, along with an agreement with the Libyan government to normalise relations within 60 days.

Despite subsequent reassurances, Tripoli had shown "no intention to want to normalise bilateral relations with Switzerland" and "systematically refused" to cooperate, Calmy-Rey said Thursday.

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