Swiss police arrest Fifa officials in Zurich

Six football officials have been arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, to face corruption charges in the US, Swiss justice officials say.

The suspects - said to include members of football governing body Fifa - were arrested at a hotel early on Wednesday.

The charges include money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud.

Fifa members are gathering in Zurich for their annual meeting on Friday, where incumbent President Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth term.

However, Mr Blatter is not understood to be one of them.

The New York Times says plain-clothed police officers took the room keys from the reception of Baur au Lac hotel, where the officials were staying, and headed to their rooms. It said the operation was carried out peacefully.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said in a statement on Wednesday that US authorities suspected the officials of paying millions of dollars worth of bribes over the years.

It says the individuals are being investigated "on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day".

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