Switz seeks answers on spy claims

Switzerland on Tuesday revealed that it has asked the US to explain an alleged CIA blackmail operation to spy on the Alpine country’s banks, exposed by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The Swiss foreign ministry said it was aware of media reports about the issue and that it had sent the US embassy in the capital Berne a diplomatic note seeking ‘clarification’. 

The ministry also confirmed that Snowden was accredited as a diplomatic attache at the US permanent mission to UN in Geneva from March 2007 to February 2009.

‘The role of members of permanent missions in Geneva is to represent their country at international organisations based in Switzerland. In line with the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, Switzerland expects members of diplomatic missions in Berne and permanent missions in Geneva to respect the laws and rules of the country,’ the ministry said.