Geneva - Weekly Swiss Airlines' flights to Tripoli have been canceled for "technical reasons," local media reported Tuesday, apparently the latest in a series of diplomatic rows between the two countries.

The Libyan authorities informed the carrier it could no longer make the connection due to a project under way at the Tripoli airport, said Jean-Claude Donzel, a spokesman for the airline.

In mid-July, Hannibal, the son of Moamer Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, was arrested in Geneva, along with his wife, for abusing two hotel employees. After posting nearly half a million dollars in bail, the two left the country.

A diplomatic spat then ensued between Bern and Tripoli, with the Gaddafi family demanding an apology from the Swiss authorities, even after the servants eventually withdrew their complaint and the charges were dropped.

Swiss companies had their businesses in Libya shut down. The Libyan government also reduced oil exports to Switzerland.

Hannibal, aged 32, had gotten into trouble in Europe before, including an incident in which he is reported to have attacked policemen in Rome.

Air travel between the two countries has been affected since the summer, with drastic cutbacks in the number of flights connecting them. (dpa)