The Swedish parliament overwhelmingly voted yesterday against joining the single European currency when it is launched in 1999.

The Riksdag, or parliament, voted by 168 votes to 65 with 67 abstentions against joining the planned single currency, or euro, casting its votes in favour of a bill declaring: "Sweden will not take part in the euro when the third phase of European economic and monetary union starts" on January 1st, 1999.

Forty-nine deputies did not take part in the vote.

The Bill was put forward in October by the minority government of Prime Minister, Mr Goeran Persson and leaves open the possibility of Sweden voting to join the euro at a later date.