Libya demands apology for joking US response to Gadhafi call for holy war against Switzerland

Libya demands US apology for ‘jihad’ response

TRIPOLI, — Libya on Wednesday demanded an apology for a joking remark by a U.S. official about the Libyan leader’s call for a holy war against Switzerland.

Last month Moammar Gadhafi appealed for a Muslim holy war because Switzerland banned building of new mosque minarets.

At the Friday State Department briefing, spokesman Philip Crowley said he was reminded of Ghadafi’s speech at the U.N. in September, noting, “I can recall lots of words and lots of papers flying all over the place, not necessarily a lot of sense.”

On Wednesday Libya called in the U.S. charge d’affaires, Joan Polaschik, and threatened negative repercussions if the U.S. fails to apologize, according to the official news agency.

There was no immediate response from the State Department.

Late Wednesday, the Libyan Cabinet approved a boycott of Switzerland “because of Switzerland’s anti-Islam policy,” a government statement said. It said Libya would seek other suppliers for ‘medicine, medical appliances and electricity equipment.