EURO 2008 INFO

The Swiss military plans to use pilotless drones to ensure security during the Euro 2008 soccer championships, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation said.

Unmanned airplanes used for surveillance purposes will fly over the stadiums of Basel, Bern and Zurich during match days, the office said today in an e-mailed statement from the Swiss capital, Bern.

The Swiss army plans to mobilize as many as 13,000 soldiers during the tournament, the country's biggest such deployment since World War II, it said last month. In addition, the soldiers will support about 15,000 police officers on duty during the June 7-29 tournament that the Alpine nation is co-hosting with Austria.

Switzerland has also requested and obtained the services of 700 German and 250 French police officers to limit security risks and any hooliganism during the matches. Sixteen teams from Russia to Italy, Turkey and the Netherlands are taking part in the event along with the co-hosts.

Army jets will also patrol Swiss airspace during the championships.