Swedish parties make deal to govern with hard-right support

Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderate Party, is expected to head the next government (TT/AP)

Three Swedish centre-right parties have announced they have reached a deal to form a coalition government that would not include the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, but would depend on their support in parliament.

The agreement comes after a month of talks following September 11 elections that gave the Sweden Democrats, a party with right-wing extremist roots, an unprecedented position of influence in Swedish politics.