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Cabinet approves controversial weapons exports

The government has approved the export of weapons to Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Egypt totalling SFr3.58 million ($3.45 million).

The decision follows a campaign to ban such transactions by the pacifist group Switzerland without an Army.

South Korea will receive assemblies and spare parts for anti-aircraft systems in the amount of SFr1.3 million, according to a statement by the economics ministry on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia has purchased SFr879,000 in machine guns and weapons accessories, and the Egyptian defence ministry has procured machine guns, grenade launchers and accessories worth SFr1.4 million.

The government said it would monitor the three countries.

Switzerland without an Army handed in the necessary signatures for a nationwide vote last year, but no date for a ballot has been set so far.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR