Swiss Politics

ICRC resumes aid operations in Iraq

This content was published on Apr 10, 2003 But the organisation says the situation in Baghdad is chaotic and dangerous with widespread looting, including in the city’s hospitals. The ICRC’s Florian Westphal told swissinfo that an ICRC delegation had gone out on Thursday into Baghdad to assess the situation but had found widespread looting and a heavy presence of armed people in the…

Swiss Politics

G-8 security accord signed with France

This content was published on Apr 8, 2003 The two countries will together provide security for the meeting, to be held in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva. Under the accord, each country will be responsible for security on its own territory, with shared responsibility for policing airspace and the lakeside. France also pledged to contribute SFr18…

Swiss Politics

Baghdad hospitals close to breaking point

This content was published on Apr 7, 2003 The Geneva-based organisation says water supplies are also running short in and around the Iraqi capital. “Our delegates in Baghdad have told us that hospitals are really struggling and are stretched to their full capacity to deal with the war wounded,” said Florian Westphal, an ICRC spokesman in Geneva. “There seems to be sufficient medical…

Swiss Politics

Swiss politics splits down the centre

This content was published on Apr 7, 2003 The left-leaning Social Democratic Party and the right-wing Swiss People’s Party emerged the main winners of this weekend’s regional elections. The two other main parties, the centre-right Radicals and Christian Democrats lost votes, in what commentators say is likely to mirror national voting patterns in the October elections. “In 70 per cent of cases, the…

Swiss Politics

War encroaches on children’s lives

This content was published on Apr 5, 2003 But the effects of the conflict have truly hit home as the media broadcast images of death and destruction from the front line. “When will they be here?” five-year-old Michelle, from Kirchberg in canton Bern, has seen the pictures of falling bombs and tanks rolling through Iraq on television. Yet despite knowing the war is…

Swiss Politics

Swiss side with UN on Iraq reconstruction

This content was published on Apr 4, 2003 The Swiss foreign ministry told swissinfo that it was firmly behind a leading role for the United Nations. On Friday, the foreign ministry’s chief spokesman, Simon Hubacher, reiterated the government’s stance, saying “the UN must play a key role in Iraq”. He added that the cabinet was expected to take up the post-war issue in…

Swiss Politics

Zurich vote seen as litmus test of general election

This content was published on Apr 4, 2003 Switzerland’s most populous canton has been hard hit by the economic slowdown, and is seeing a wider polarisation of political views. As well as the Zurich vote, elections are also taking place in Lucerne, Ticino and Appenzell Outer Rhodes. Attention will be focusing on the performance of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, which did well…

Swiss Politics

Switzerland to host new round of talks on Iraq

This content was published on Apr 1, 2003 The talks – the second hosted by Switzerland – aim to strengthen dialogue between Iraq’s neighbours, aid organisations and donor countries. Wednesday’s meeting is an offshoot of an earlier international humanitarian conference, which was organised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in February. Following the conference in Geneva, the SDC decided to…

Swiss Politics

Swiss protest for peace under a rainbow banner

This content was published on Mar 30, 2003 Over 30,000 have been bought and are either hanging from balconies or being displayed at peace marches across the country. It was the Swiss organisation, Switzerland without Army Group (GSoA), that brought the multicolour flags to a larger audience, so to speak. It hit on the idea of bringing a batch to a recent anti-war…

Swiss Politics

Right wing holds on to poll lead

This content was published on Mar 25, 2003 With 24.6 per cent, the People’s Party is only just ahead of the centre-left Social Democrats. The poll, conducted by the Bern-based GfS institute at the beginning of March, said the People’s Party clocked up strong gains last autumn in the run-up to a vote on toughening Switzerland’s asylum laws. The party’s popularity has receded…

Swiss Politics

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo

Swiss Politics

More

ICRC resumes aid operations in Iraq

More

G-8 security accord signed with France

More

Baghdad hospitals close to breaking point

More

Swiss politics splits down the centre

More

War encroaches on children’s lives

More

Swiss side with UN on Iraq reconstruction

More

Zurich vote seen as litmus test of general election

More

Switzerland to host new round of talks on Iraq

More

Swiss protest for peace under a rainbow banner

More

Right wing holds on to poll lead

Popular Stories

Most Discussed