Updated

Switzerland has blocked the export of pistol parts to the United States, where they were to be assembled into functioning weapons and sold to Saudi Arabia's royal guard.

The Swiss government said in a statement Wednesday that the pistols "could be used to commit human rights abuses."

Switzerland has been tightening arms export controls in recent years to prevent re-export to abusive regimes or war zones. Last year, the government temporarily stopped the sale of weapons to the United Arab Emirates after Swiss-made grenades sent to the Gulf state were found with rebels in Syria.

The Swiss government didn't identify the manufacturer whose exports were blocked. But Swiss public television SRF said the parts were made by Swiss-based group KRISS.

The company declined immediately to comment on the report.