Monday, February 7 2005 17:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Geneva: Swiss police today (Feb 7, 2005) cordoned off the Spanish consulate in the capital Bern following a report that hostages were being held inside the building.

Swiss radio reported that two employees, a man and a women, were being held, but neither Swiss police nor the Spanish Foreign Ministry in Madrid was able to confirm the report.

Nevertheless, police sealed off part of the Kirchenfeld district where the consulate is situated and set up a crisis centre specialised in hostage-taking situations, a police spokeswoman said.

Swiss radio reported that elite sharpshooters had been posted on buildings near the consulate.

Police in Bern said in a statement that they could neither confirm nor deny any hostage-taking.

In Madrid, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said officials were "trying to get in touch with the personnel of the consulate to find out what is happening."