Sweden recognises state of Palestine; first major European state to do so

Sweden's centre-left government has officially recognised the state of Palestine, becoming the first major European country to do so.

Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, in a statement published in the Dagens Nyheter daily, said: "It is an important step that confirms the Palestinians' right to self-determination.

"We hope that this will show the way for others."

Sweden's prime minister, Stefan Lofven, announced in his inaugural address to parliament in early October that his country would become the first European Union member in western Europe to recognise a Palestinian state.

While the Palestinians cheered the move, Israel summoned Sweden's ambassador to express disappointment. Israel has long insisted that the Palestinians can only receive their promised state through direct negotiations and not through other diplomatic channels.

Seven EU members in eastern European and the Mediterranean have already recognised a Palestinian state - Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Romania. Non-EU member Iceland is the only other western European nation to have done so.