Switzerland's decision to blacklist 186 Libyan nationals, including President Muammar Gaddafi, could disrupt the Libyan leader's planned visit to Malta unless a solution is found, according to government sources.

With hopes for a solution to the Swiss-Libyan impasse pinned on today's meeting in Germany between Libyan Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa and Swiss government officials, France yesterday joined Malta and Italy in asking the Swiss to drop the blacklist.

Meanwhile, two Maltese passengers, an Italian and a French traveller on board an Air Malta flight to Libya were yesterday refused entry and had to return.

Libya has retaliated to Switzerland's blacklist by refusing entry to travellers from Schengen countries except for those with a residence permit.

The Swiss decision means that none of the 186 Libyans, including members of Col Gaddafi's family, could be issued travel visas by any of the Schengen area members. The Schengen area is made up of 22 EU member states, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

Mr Kousa announced last month that Col Gaddafi would be visiting Malta in March, although no exact date has yet been set.

"The Swiss decision is abusive because it has a direct impact on other countries' foreign relations. Whoever is on the blacklist cannot travel anywhere in the 25-member Schengen zone," the government sources said.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici yesterday held talks with his Swiss counterpart on the impasse with Libya.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici was in Switzerland attending an unrelated conference and met Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.

In a letter earlier this week, he rebuked the Swiss government for its actions.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the situation would be resolved once Libya and Switzerland reached an agreement acceptable to both sides.

The Libyan Foreign Minister yesterday met his Spanish and Portuguese counterparts on the matter. Spain holds the EU presidency.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry confirmed that, on Malta's insistence, the visa issue would be the first item on the agenda for Monday's meeting of EU foreign ministers.

The dispute between Switzerland and Libya dates back to 2008 when Col Gaddafi's son, Hannibal, and his wife were arrested in Switzerland on charges of mistreating two domestic employees, a case that was later dropped. Libya had responded by stopping oil exports to Switzerland, withdrawing financial assets from Swiss accounts and arresting two Swiss businessmen, who are still in Libya.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has reiterated its call for Maltese travellers to consult the Libyan Embassy in Malta before leaving for Tripoli.