UBS not to disclose client details to US

In a fresh turn to the UBS' legal battle with the US tax authorities, the Swiss government has said that the country's law prohibits the bank from disclosing details about the account holders.

The US government has filed a suit against UBS demanding the banking major to part with details of about 52,000 American clients. The case relates to allegations of the Swiss bank helping American citizens in tax evasion.

"Switzerland makes it perfectly clear that Swiss law prohibits UBS from complying with a possible order by the court in Miami to hand over the client information," The Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) said in a statement.

Attributing to a filing in the Miami Court, where the case is progressing, the FDJP said the Swiss government has prepared the necessary measures to implement Swiss law.

According to the statement, UBS would by no mean be in a position to comply with a possible order from the US Court seeking information about 52,000 clients.

"All the necessary measures should be taken to prevent UBS from handing over the information on the 52,000 account holders demanded in the US civil proceeding," the FDJP noted.

Moreover, the statement asserted that 'if circumstances require", the FDJP would issue an order prohibiting UBS from explicitly handing over client information.