SWEDEN: Swedish foreign minister Laila Freivalds has resigned after a row over the closure of a website with cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, embarrassing the prime minister, Göran Persson, six months ahead of elections
Social Democrat leader Mr Persson, behind in polls that favour the conservative opposition in September's vote, had for months resisted calls to sack the unpopular foreign minister over her response to the Asian tsunami, in which 500 Swedes died.
However she was forced to resign yesterday when it was revealed this week she had not given full information about her role in the closure of a site of a far-right political party that published cartoons of the prophet offensive to Muslims.
"It was her own decision," said Mr Persson, who had criticised a junior foreign ministry official for putting pressure on a private internet hosting company to close the website belonging to an anti-immigrant party. Such pressure violates constitutional guarantees of free speech.
Ms Freivalds originally said she did not know her ministry had contacted the company, but documents published this week proved she had been informed.
She has long been an unpopular figure. She succeeded the popular Anna Lindh, who was stabbed to death in 2003. She already had to quit as justice minister in 2000 over property dealings. On the day of the tsunami disaster, Ms Freivalds went to the theatre.
She will be replaced temporarily by deputy prime minister Bosse Ringholm, who has been ridiculed in the media after twice leaving his phone off the hook after interviews and being heard to make insulting comments about the reporters.