STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador from Stockholm, the Swedish foreign ministry said on Wednesday, deepening a diplomatic row between the two countries over Riyadh's record on human rights and democracy.
Sweden said on Tuesday it would cancel a long-standing defense cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. That followed Riyahd's decision to block a speech due to be given by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom to the Arab League on Monday in Cairo.
"We have received information that Saudi Arabia has called its ambassador home," said Erik Boman, spokesman for Wallstrom.
He said the reason given was the same as given by Saudi Arabia in blocking Wallstrom's speech in Cairo: "Sweden's criticism and statements which have been made about human rights and democracy".
Boman said Sweden did not plan to recall its ambassador to Saudi Arabia. A spokesman for Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.
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.
The more vocal stance has already created problems.
In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said Sweden would recognize a Palestinian state, leading to strong criticism from Israel. Wallstrom has also been very critical of Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Following the Saudi protest against her, the Arab League agreed a resolution denouncing Wallstrom's remarks to the Swedish parliament, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In February, Wallstrom told parliament Riyadh violated women's rights and she criticized the flogging of activist and blogger Raif Badawi. She also called Saudi Arabia a "dictatorship."
In an editorial following the government's decision to scrap the Saudi defense cooperation agreement, business daily Dagens Industri said the current foreign policy had backfired.
"The government's Middle East politics so far have worsened its relations with both Israel and the Arab world at a critical juncture for the whole region," the paper said.