Swiss halfway done giving UBS account info to US

GENEVA

Swiss tax authorities say they're halfway to fulfilling agreement with Washington to settle a tax evasion dispute involving wealthy Americans and bank UBS AG.

A statement Tuesday said the Swiss have handed over information on about half the 4,500 account sought by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

It said all the files have now been examined, and most of the remaining data would be handed over soon.

A Swiss-U.S. agreement last year ended a long dispute over thousands of wealthy Americans who hid their money in UBS accounts to evade taxes.

The tax authorities said they hoped the U.S. would now definitively withdraw a civil suit against UBS that was suspended by last August's accord.

The deal shattered Swiss banking secrecy principles.