Swiss notified of Mubarak regime assets

The Swiss government says it has been notified that leading figures in Egypt's former regime have assets stashed in Switzerland, says the AP news agency.

A week ago the Swiss authorities asked Swiss banks to search for and block any assets that might belong to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who stood down the same day after 30 years in power, as well as to ten members of his family and entourage.

At the time the government said there was no confirmation that such assets actually existed, even though they have been widely reported.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lars Knuchel told AP on Thursday that “it is too early to provide further information such as the amounts or the nature of the assets”.

On Wednesday this week the new rulers in Egypt submitted a request to Switzerland for legal assistance.

Switzerland has now also updated its safety advice for Egypt. It said on Thursday that Red Sea resorts could be visited but that “precaution measures” should be taken. Travel restrictions remain for the rest of the country.

Meanwhile, Egyptian pro-democracy leaders have been urging followers to celebrate one week since Mubarak’s fall with a march through the capital, Cairo, on Friday.