World IN BRIEF : SWITZERLAND : Money for Marcos Victims Is Blocked

Two banks have won a small victory in the battle over an estimated $450 million belonging to the late Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos. A U.S. federal appellate judge has issued a temporary stay blocking the transfer of millions of dollars from Marcos’ Swiss bank accounts to pay damages to 10,000 victims of human rights violations. The order from Judge Stephen Trott of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco was dated Dec. 22. It will remain in effect at least until Jan. 9, when a three-judge panel is scheduled to hear the case.