Switzerland has ordered an immediate freeze on any assets that may belong to defiant Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi and his entourage, the Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The Federal Council (government) condemns the violence used by the Libyan strongman against the people in the strongest terms," the ministry said in a statement.

"In view of the developments the Federal Council has decided to block with immediate effect any possible assets of Muammar Gaddafi and his entourage in Switzerland," it added.

The Swiss government said it wanted to avoid any misappropriation of Libyan state property that might still be in Switzerland.