Briefly

SWITZERLAND

Action taken over alleged US spying

The Swiss government has filed a criminal complaint over the US Central Intelligence Agency's alleged use of a cryptography company as a front to spy on various governments' secret communications, the Swiss attorney general's office said on Sunday. The complaint against persons unknown for alleged breaches of the law governing export controls follows recent reports on "Operation Rubicon", which for decades involved the CIA and German BND spy services covertly reading other nations' secret messages encoded with technology sold by Swiss firm Crypto AG. The case of Crypto, which sold encryption devices and software while being secretly owned by US and German intelligence services that could freely read what it encrypted, is embarrassing for neutral Switzerland and could hurt its international reputation, particularly if it turned a blind eye.

INDIA

Journalists targeted in New Delhi violence

Reporting in India has never been without its risks, but journalists said attacks on the media during last week's deadly communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in New Delhi show the situation is deteriorating. One reporter was shot and survived, another had his teeth knocked out, and many more said Hindu mobs demanded proof of religion and tried to keep them from documenting vandalism and violence that included people attacking one another with axes, swords, metal pipes and guns. Authorities have yet to provide an official account of what sparked the 72 hours of violence that left 42 people dead and hundreds wounded. Tensions between Hindus and Muslims have been building for months over a new citizenship law.

IRAQ

Rockets hit Green Zone in Baghdad

At least two rockets were fired at the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, an Interior Ministry official said on Sunday. The incident took place around midnight on Saturday when unknown militants fired the rockets at the zone, which houses some of the main Iraqi government offices and the US embassy, the official said on condition of anonymity. Sirens were heard in the zone, as the rockets landed in an empty area and caused no casualties, the source added. The Green Zone has been frequently targeted by insurgents' mortar and rocket attacks. The roughly 10-square-km zone is on the west bank of the Tigris River, which bisects the Iraqi capital.