WORLD> Europe
Swiss gov't approves controversial weapons exports
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-26 11:14

GENEVA - The Swiss government on Wednesday approved exports of weapons to Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Egypt totaling 3.58 million Swiss francs (US$3.45 million).

The decision followed a campaign to ban such transactions by the pacifist group Switzerland without an Army, the official Swissinfo website reported.

South Korea will receive assemblies and spare parts for anti-aircraft systems in the amount of 1.3 million Swiss francs (US$1.25 million), according to a statement by the economics ministry.

Saudi Arabia has purchased 879,000 Swiss francs (US$84,5000) in machine guns and weapons accessories, and the Egyptian defense ministry has procured machine guns, grenade launchers and accessories worth 1.4 million Swiss francs (US$1.35 million).

The Swiss government said it would monitor the use of the weapons by the three countries.