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| Europe |
| Swedish defense minister quits over Saudi arms plant plans |
| 2012-03-29 |
| The Swedish defense minister was forced to quit on Thursday after weeks of pressure over reports the government planned to help Saudi Arabia build a weapons plant. Arms sales to Saudi Arabia are controversial in a country which prides itself on standing up for human rights, and the reports about aid for the weapons plant sparked an uproar. Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors survived initial reports in early March about plans for a state-run Defense research agency, FOI, to help Saudi Arabia build the plant by saying he had not known of them and that FOI had exceeded its authority. But reports of the details of the affair have continued to surface, steadily increasing pressure on him. Roberta Alenius, spokeswoman for Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, said, "He (Tolgfors) has resigned at his own request." The minority center-right government, which consists of four parties, has fallen behind in opinion polls after the largest opposition party the Social Democrats named a popular new leader. Reinfeldt, head of the largest government party, the Moderates, has had to delay further income tax cuts due to a slowing economy. He has until the next election in 2014 to win back some popularity. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #1 Don't they sell any other body parts over there? |
| Posted by: Chuckles Whavimble6183 2012-03-29 17:01 |