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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 to Stockholm amid a row over military ties, Sweden says. Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador after Sweden ended a weapons deal between the countries on Monday.
"We were informed yesterday [Tuesday] that Saudi Arabia had called back its ambassador," said Swedish foreign ministry spokeswoman Veronica Nordlund. Sweden acted after Saudi Arabia blocked a speech by the Swedish foreign minister to the Arab League.
Earlier this week, Sweden said it would end a long-standing defence co-operation deal between the countries. On Wednesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry described Margot Wallstrom's remarks as "offensive" and a "blatant interference in its internal affairs."
The agreement, worth millions of dollars in Swedish arms exports, is due to expire in May. The decade old defence deal was worth millions of dollars in Swedish arms exports and was due to expire in May.
Sweden said it was cancelling the agreement after Saudi Arabia decided to block a speech due to be given by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom to the Arab League earlier this week. The Swedish foreign ministry confirmed that Saudi Ambassador Ibrahim bin Saad Al-Ibrahim was being withdrawn due to the country's criticism of the Kingdom's record on "human rights and democracy."
A Swedish foreign ministry spokesman told the AFP news agency the reason given for recalling the ambassador was Sweden's criticism of Saudi Arabia's record on human rights and democracy. Ms Wallstrom is an outspoken critic of the Gulf state, previously describing it as a "dictatorship".
He said there were no plans to recall Sweden's ambassador to Saudi Arabia. On Monday, Ms Wallstrom posted online a copy of the speech she was due to give to the Arab League in Cairo.
On Monday, Ms Wallstrom posted online a copy of the speech she was due to give 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."
In it, she said the Arab League was a "key partner" for Sweden. She described freedom of religion and expression as "fundamental rights".
She also highlighted Sweden's move to recognising a Palestinian state, plus the threat of radicalisation and female genital mutilation. In February, Ms Wallstrom told the Swedish parliament that Riyadh violated women's rights and criticised the flogging of activist and blogger Raif Badawi.
Sweden's Social Democrat-led government came to power in October promising to take a more active international role and refocus foreign policy on human rights.
In February, Ms Wallstrom told the Swedish parliament that Riyadh violated women's rights and she criticised the flogging of activist and blogger Raif Badawi.
She also called Saudi Arabia a "dictatorship".