Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier (file photo)A Swiss court has rejected an appeal by the family of Haiti's formerdictator to reclaim the money it had stashed away in Swiss bankaccounts.

The family of Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier hasnot been able to gain access to the accounts, totaling $6 million,since 2002.

The court's rejection of the family's appeal opensthe way for the Swiss government's plan to give the money to aidagencies in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

The government says the Duvalier family has failed to prove the money in the accounts is of legitimate origin.  

Thecourt said the Duvalier family had diverted public Haitian funds intothe Swiss accounts through a Liechtenstein foundation. The Swiss courtdescribed the foundation as a "criminal organization."

The Duvaliers can appeal the case.

Switzerlandhas long been known as a country where money could be easily hiddenbecause of its banking secrecy rules. However, recent bankingreforms have made it harder to hide money there. 

Some information for this report was provided by AP.