Switzerland weighs a response to Chad on plane misuse

February 23, 2008 (BERNE) — The Swiss government is contemplating sanctions against Chad for altering Swiss made air crafts and using it for military fighting.

Berne has instructed its foreign and economy ministry to come up with recommendations on how to respond in terms of sanctions or other measures to punish Chad.

However Swiss Info quoted Othmar Wyss of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs as saying that the government has “very few possibilities to sanction Chad”.

Some options considered by foreign ministry include travel ban and asset freeze though a Swiss official told Swiss Info that it is “too early to make any predictions”.

Both ministries have until end of March to come up with recommendations.

Last month Chadian air force planes attacked a Chadian rebel base across the border in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Rebels and government forces clashed violently in the capital before the Chadian army managed to push off the coalition of Chadian rebels forcing them to withdraw.

(ST)