Thousands of soldiers and police have taken up positions around the Swiss ski resort of Davos in an annual show of force ahead of an economic summit expected to attract the world's political and business elite. Swiss officials are putting the final touches on a 8.5-million franc security operation that transforms the snowy village into a maze of steel fences and razor-wire barriers for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum business lobby. While there has been no direct terrorism threat and no on-site protests are planned, security personnel say the measures are necessary because of global political tension and past experiences. Six years ago anti-free trade demonstrators rampaged through the resort, smashing shop windows and car windscreens. The WEF expects to attract more than 10 heads of state or government, 60 cabinet ministers, and 735 chief executives or chairmen to the five-day event starting Jan. 25. Throughout the event, the sleepy Alpine village resembles a high-security airport with some 5,500 army personnel deployed to guard the 2,340 WEF guests, holiday-makers and residents. Some 21 helicopters and several fighter jets will patrol the closed airspace above Davos. --More 20 36 Local Time 17 36 GMT
