Swiss special forces take position behind a car in front of the Consulate of Spain in Bern. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos announced on Monday that all the assailants who took over the Spanish consulate in Swiss capital Bern earlier in the day have left the building, and all the consulate staff are safe.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Special forces of the Berne police are getting ready to enter the Spanish consulate where three men took at least three hostages, February 7, 2005. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    MADRID, Feb. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos announced on Monday that all the assailants who took over the Spanish consulate in Swiss capital Bern earlier in the day have left the building, and all the consulate staff are safe.

    No consulate personnel was injured in the incident, Moratinos said.

    The state radio also confirmed that the hostage-takers have left the consulate.

    Earlier, a consulate official confirmed that "one" unidentified man intruded into the consulate building and had seized one or two hostages, the Swiss News Agency reported.

    The official told reporters that the incident occurred around 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Monday, said the report.

    Police sealed off the Kirchenfeld neighborhood where the consulate is located, after unconfirmed reports said that several unidentified individuals had taken over the consulate and seized at least one hostage inside the building.

    Police in Bern said they did not know whether the assailant was armed or what his demand was, but a special unit had been mobilized to deal with the hostage seizure. Enditem