BBC News Online: World: Europe

Swiss impose sanctions against Burma, Afghanistan

Switzerland is imposing new sanctions on Burma and Afghanistan.

The Swiss foreign ministry said it would freeze assets in bank accounts owned by members of the military junta in Burma and officials of the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

Exports of arms and other items which could be used for internal repression or terrorism would also be banned. Switzerland has had some sanctions in place against Burma since 1996 and the new measures mirror a stricter regime imposed by the fifteen-member European Union in April.

The sanctions against Afghanistan are in line with measures approved by the United Nations security council last year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service