Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt insisted his government would play no role in deciding whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to the US.

Sweden was reeling today after two explosions targeted the tolerant and open nation that had not seen a terrorist attack in more than 30 years.

SWEDEN’S prime minister sought help from the opposition Greens yesterday to avoid a political deadlock after an Islam-bashing far-right group spoiled his centre-right government’s control of Parliament.

A far-right party holds the balance of power in Sweden after winning seats in parliament for the first time in elections yesterday.

SWEDEN’S election was heading for a nail-biting finish yesterday with a TV exit poll and partial results showing a far-right party challenging the centre-right government’s majority in Parliament.

Sweden's centre-right government heads into tomorrow's election with a commanding lead in the polls - but could lose its majority if a far-right group makes it into Parliament.

THE European Union yesterday urged major world polluters to set new long-term goals to fight climate change, realising they will fail to match its ambitious offer to slash greenhouse gas emissions.

The man leading the hunt to fill two new top roles in Europe spoke today of the diplomatic niceties which make the job a serious headache.

NEGOTIATORS and diplomats were working yesterday on a scaled-back version of a global climate change treaty that could be agreed by next month’s deadline, without firm US commitments.

A ROW over how EU countries should contribute to poorer nations to help them cope with climate change threatened to scupper the union’s chances of agreeing their Copenhagen policy last night.

EU countries struggled today to decide how much climate aid to offer poorer nations.

CZECH President Vaclav Klaus raised a new obstacle to the European Union’s Lisbon reform treaty yesterday, telling EU president Sweden he wants a footnote added to the document before signing it into force.

THE urgent need to take action to reverse climate change and tackle the economic crisis has been spelt out by the new Swedish presidency of the European Union to its parliament.

THE EU was preparing yesterday to debate a British request to pull ambassadors of all 27 EU nations from Iran in protest over the detention of Iranian staff at the British Embassy in Tehran.

The Taoiseach will meet the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt later today, after yesterday's meeting with the Finnish PM in Helsinki.

Taoiseach Brain Cowen will today travel to Helsinki for talks ahead of next month’s European Summit.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will fly to Scandinavia this week to discuss the Lisbon Treaty with other European country leaders.

Sweden’s prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has invited ambassadors from Muslim countries to talks over a drawing of the Prophet Mohammed in a Swedish newspaper.

THE public opinion poll published last week showing that Fianna Fáil had increased its popularity in the wake of all the revelations about Bertie Ahern’s generous friends reflects the nod-and-wink double standard that afflicts this country.

Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson conceded defeat in parliamentary elections today.