Service for Lindh as man is arrested

Date:18/09/03

A MEMORIAL service will be held in Sweden tomorrow (19 September) for murdered Foreign Minister Anna Lindh.

The ceremony for Lindh, who died last Thursday from wounds inflicted during a vicious knife attack while she was out shopping, will take place in Stockholm City Hall.

International leaders including Romano Prodi, the European Commission president, and Javier Solana, EU high representative for foreign affairs, will join the Swedish royal family and members of the government led by Prime Minister Göran Persson at the service. Secretary of State Colin Powell will represent the US.

Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström, who along with external relations chief Chris Patten will also represent the EU, described Lindh as "outstanding as a mother, outstanding as a friend and outstanding as a political leader. She was courageous, straightforward and honest."

Sven-Olof Petersson, Sweden's permanent representative to the EU, who was Lindh's political director in Stockholm for four years before his current posting, said: "She had a rare combination of toughness and blunt speaking and gentleness and humour. That's why she was loved by so many people. It will be very difficult, if not impossible, to fill her shoes."

A private burial will take place after the service for Lindh, who played a leading role in the failed "Yes" campaign for Swedish euro membership.

• Police are questioning a suspect in connection with Lindh's murder. They would not confirm his identity but Swedish media said he is 35 and has convictions for crimes such as fraud, shoplifting and threats of violence against public servants. The man, who was unarmed when arrested on Tuesday evening outside a Stockholm pub, is said to have links to neo-Nazi groups.