Traders from the Libyan capital Tripoli have been selling RUAG weapons and Swiss grenade launchers on the Internet, according to the “SonntagsBlick” newspaper. The paper refers to a report by the Australian weapons research centre ARESExternal link and photo documents. Libyan Facebook users with direct links to armed groups are among those wanting to buy, it says.
Swiss state-owned defence contractor RUAG and defence supplier Brügger and Thomet AG both confirmed to the newspaper that the photos were pictures of their products, says SonntagsBlick, but it is unclear how the weapons arrived in the war-torn region.
This comes after the Swiss government in June decided to relax arms export rules, making exports to countries with an internal armed conflict possible under certain conditions.
Questioned by “SonntagsBlick”, conservative-right defence minister Guy Parmelin defended the move but said arms exports to countries like Libya and Syria would not be allowed.
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Swiss government to relax rules on arms exports
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Arms exports to countries with an internal armed conflict are to be made possible under certain conditions, the government has decided.
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ICRC head slams relaxation of arms exports rules
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The Swiss-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) opposes the relaxation of rules governing Switzerland’s export of war materiel to countries involved in civil wars. ICRC president Peter Maurer is also urging the Alpine nation to raise its “humanitarian profile.” With decisions such as relaxing the regulation of arms exports and delaying the ratification of…
Uncensored report on arms exports reveals shortcomings
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Regulations for exporting weapons are easy to exploit and the Swiss authorities approve almost all export requests for war materiel.
Loopholes allow Swiss weapons producers to massage export rules
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In June, the government proposed allowing weapons to be exported to countries in the throes of internal conflict provided it could be established that they would not be used by warring parties. The FAO says it is currently possible to sidestep existing restrictions using perfectly legal measures. One such loophole is a provision that allows…
Swiss grenades spotted in arsenal of jihadists fighting in Syria
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Members of the Islamic State group came into possession of Swiss grenades during the conflict in Syria, according to a Sunday news report.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.