Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Swiss government has identified potential assets worth 830m Swiss francs (£580m) belonging to the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the ousted presidents of Egypt and Tunisia.
Swiss President and Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said that the assets include 360m Swiss francs that may belong to Gaddafi or his entourage. She said Switzerland had also linked some 410m francs to the former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and 60m to Tunisia's deposed Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Switzerland has ordered banks and other financial institutions to freeze possible assets belonging to the three men and their key supporters to prevent the funds from being withdrawn. It said said that Tunisia and Egypt had already started legal proceedings to claim the assets. The government added that neither country had provided evidence of possible criminal wrongdoing involving the money.
The Swiss government sent diplomatic cables to Tunisia and Egypt in late March explaining that they must submit evidence so authorities can decide if any offences are punishable in Switzerland. In both cases, the money will remain locked away for three years while the two countries satisfy Swiss legal requirements.
* Turkey escalated the pressure on Libya yesterday, insisting that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi should leave immediately "for the sake of his country's future".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments