Switzerland freezes accounts of Mubarak and his entourage

Switzerland's government moved to freeze any assets of Hosni Mubarak, Swiss officials said Friday.

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said it would freeze any assets in the country's banks that might belong to the former Egyptian president or his family, without specifying how much money was involved or where it was.

Mubarak ended his 30-year reign Friday, stepping down following 18 days of protests against his rule.

An official statement from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said the Swiss cabinet had frozen all funds belonging to Mubarak or "his circles," according to GlobalPost.

Without specifying the amount of money involved, foreign ministry spokesman Lars Knuchel said, "I can confirm that Switzerland has frozen possible assets of the former Egyptian president with immediate effect."

Switzerland has also frozen assets of Tunisia's former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who quit after a revolt by the people of the country.

The moves are seen as an attempt by the European country to ameliorate its image as a safe haven for misbegotten wealth, OneIndia News reports.