An employee of Switzerland's Parliament has been suspended after a naked picture she took of herself at work found its way into the media.

The Parliament said the woman, whom it did not identify, was suspended with immediate effect "until the facts are cleared up".

It said the picture was published by "various media" and the decision to order the suspension was taken in the interests of upholding the good reputation of the Parliament and its services. It did not specify what the woman's job was.

Swiss media today published several pictures of a naked or lightly clad woman they said worked as a secretary at the Parliament. It was not clear which photo had been taken at the Parliament.