Libya has suspended the issuing of entry visas to citizens of all European Union states except Britain, an official at the country's main international airport said on Monday.

Asked to confirm reports about the visa suspension, the official, who did not want to be identified, said: "This is right. This decision has been taken. No visas for Europeans, except Britain."

No explanation was given for the suspension, and there was no immediate confirmation, either from the Libyan government or European officials.

In Pictures:

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Libya has been locked for months in a diplomatic row with Switzerland over the prosecution of two Swiss businessmen who had been working in the North African country.

Libya's Oea newspaper, which has close ties to a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, earlier reported that Libya would stop issuing visas to citizens of countries in the Schengen area, which includes non-EU member Switzerland.

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