Computer failure paralyses Swiss ministries

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: Complicated computer problems at key Swiss government ministries have paralyzed work at several offices since Friday, a government spokesperson said.

The foreign ministry was hardest hit by the information systems failure and likely will face severe computer restrictions on Monday.

The finance and interior ministries will fare better and be back at work when the week starts, Karolina Kohout, a spokeswoman for the Federal Office of Information Technology told the Swiss News Agency on Sunday.

Speculation is rife in the Swiss media that the problems were brought on by a hacker. The errors were first noticed Friday. The government has not commented on those reports.

©IANS