US envoy in Swiss spy probe leaving country soon

GENEVA, Nov 2 (Reuters) A US diplomat at the centre of a Swiss probe into alleged CIA spying on a trade union is leaving the country this month at the end of a three-year posting, the US embassy said today.

Syna union, Switzerland's second largest, has accused an unidentified member of the US embassy staff in Bern of trying to gain access to data on some of its 65,000 members apparently as part of an investigation into possible terrorism financing.

A preliminary Swiss investigation had ''corroborated suspicions'' about possible spying activities, according to a spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor's office who declined to give any details of the case.

But to bring any charges, the prosecutor's office would need government permission, she said. Government authorisation is needed for any formal accusation involving a foreign country.

''We are ready to do it,'' said Jeannette Balmer, spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor's office.

According to Swiss newspapers, the embassy official tried to get information about a union member of Arab origin.

The union, which held a protest at the US embassy earlier this week, said in a statement: ''The United States' legitimate efforts against international terrorism do not justify contempt for individuals' rights and illegal spying on trade unions''.

The US embassy declined to discuss the spying allegations, but a spokesman said that its staff conduct was ''according to normal standards and practices of diplomats everywhere''.

The person investigated by the Swiss was already due to leave the country, said US embassy spokesman Daniel Wendell.

''The individual in question is a political officer nearing the end of his three-year tour. He will depart the country as planned during the course of November,'' he said.

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