BBC News Online: World: Europe

Swiss fascist goes on trial

The trial has begun in Lausanne of one of Switzerland's most notorious fascists.

Gaston Armand Amaudruz, 79, is accused of publicly denying the Holocaust in an article written five years ago.

In a monthly newsletter, Mr Amaudruz denied the existence of the Holocaust, demanded proof of the gas chambers in Nazi death camps and blamed Jews for having too much influence in Switzerland.

Under Swiss anti-racism laws, these remarks carry a jail sentence of up to three years.

Nazi links

Amongst those bringing the prosecution are the Nazi-hunter, Serge Klarsfeld.

Mr Amaudruz, who is considered the main spokesman of Switzerland's fascist groups, is well-known to the Swiss authorities.

He is suspected of having had close links with Nazi sympathisers in the Swiss wartime government.

After the war, he set up right-wing extremist groups who believed in the segregation of non-Europeans and strict rules for inter-racial marriages.

He also campaigned actively against the introduction of the anti-racism laws which he is now accused of breaching.