The CEO of Swedish firm Saab says his phone was tapped during negotiations with the Swiss Federal Council over the sale of Gripen fighter jets.

Haakan Buskhe said he believed his phone was bugged multiple times, and SMS messages were sent from his device.

Buskhe told the newspaper Svenska Dagbledet that he believed competing firms Dassault and EADS were responsible for the espionage, though he did not give names or evidence.

The Federal Council decided to purchase 22 Saab-made Gripen jets for about 3.1 billion francs.

Voters will get their say on the purchase, however.