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Saudis recall Sweden ambassador amid diplomatic row | Saudis recall Sweden ambassador amid diplomatic row |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador after Sweden ended a weapons deal between the countries on Monday. | |
Sweden acted after Saudi Arabia blocked a speech by the Swedish foreign minister to the Arab League. | |
On Wednesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry described Margot Wallstrom's remarks as "offensive" and a "blatant interference in its internal affairs." | |
The decade old defence deal was worth millions of dollars in Swedish arms exports and was due to expire in May. | |
The Swedish foreign ministry confirmed that Saudi Ambassador Ibrahim bin Saad Al-Ibrahim was being withdrawn due to the country's criticism of the Kingdom's record on "human rights and democracy." | |
Ms Wallstrom is an outspoken critic of the Gulf state, previously describing it as a "dictatorship". | |
On Monday, Ms Wallstrom posted online a copy of the speech she was due to give to the Arab League in Cairo. | |
In the wide-ranging speech she highlighted Sweden's commitment to international human rights. She also advocated the benefits of democratic progress, and called for members to "focus attention on women's rights." | |
She described freedom of religion and expression as "fundamental rights". | |
In February, Ms Wallstrom told the Swedish parliament that Riyadh violated women's rights and criticised the flogging of activist and blogger Raif Badawi. | |