Swedish Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors resigned Thursday after weeks of controversy over revelations Sweden planned to help Saudi Arabia build an arms factory, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said. “I have today, upon request from Sten Tolgfors, decided to relieve him (of his duties),” the head of Sweden’s centre-right government told a news conference, hailing the departing minister for his five years on the job. Reinfeldt stressed that Tolgfors had begun hinting months ago he wanted to leave soon, but acknowledged that media focus on the ongoing scandal had hastened his exit. “The probe and the questions around this issue will continue… and that is of course a good thing,” Reinfeldt said, adding that Tolgfors would maintain his seat in parliament while Infrastructure Minister Catharina Elmsaeter-Svaerd would temporarily take over the defence portfolio. Earlier this month public broadcaster Swedish Radio said the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) had secret plans since 2007 to help Saudi Arabia build a plant for the production of anti-tank weapons. The radio said part of the so-called Project Simoom involved the creation of a shell company called SSTI to handle dealings with Saudi Arabia, in order to avoid any direct links to FOI and the government. FOI director general Jan-Olof Lind said last week he had reported “a suspected crime” following an internal review, and Swedish prosecutor Agneta Hilding Qvarnstroem opened a preliminary investigation into the affair.
