The list 'was prepared in a non-transparent way, shall I say, by mandate of a few states despite the fact that Switzerland is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development', Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey said at a news conference during a visit to Paris.

The Swiss, she said, were 'surprised, so as not to say angry.' Under growing pressure, Switzerland announced on Friday that it will cooperate in international tax investigations, breaking with a long-standing tradition of protecting wealthy foreigners accused of hiding their billions.

The US, France, Germany and other troubles economies have pressed for help catching tax evaders using a standard of information exchange created by the 30-member OECD.

A handful of other countries whose policies of banking secrecy attract foreign wealth have announced plans to be more forthcoming in investigations to avoid being labeled as uncooperative tax havens.

Mrs Calmy-Rey said that until now Switzerland had lifted banking secrecy to provide information on tax fraud.

'From now on, to be in compliance with the OECD's model agreement, we will lift tax secrecy as well upon request in cases of tax evasion,' she said. 'That was not covered until now.'

Austria and Luxembourg announced last week that they would offer more help on tax investigations. Similar promises have come over the past month from Liechtenstein, Bermuda, the British islands of Jersey and Guernsey, and two tiny principalities, Monaco on the Riviera and Andorra on the border between France and Spain. -- AP