Swedish Minister Stabbed

Sweden's foreign minister, a leading figure in the country's landmark pro-euro referendum campaign, was stabbed and seriously injured yesterday in central Stockholm.

Campaigning for Sunday's vote was suspended, though police said initially the attack on Anna Lindh did not appear to have a political motive.

They were searching for a "Swedish-looking" man wearing a military-style camouflage jacket who fled the city's Nordiska Kompaniet department store.

Ms Lindh, 46, was being operated on last night in a nearby hospital for wounds to the chest, stomach and arms. Her injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening.

The minister had no bodyguard in a country where leading politicians are unusually accessible and are often seen walking or travelling on the underground without police protection.

The incident shocked Swedes, who are unused to political violence, and immediately brought speculation that it might be linked to the euro referendum.

But comparisons were also being made with the assassination of Pim Fortuyn, the populist gay Dutch politician murdered by an animal rights activist just before the general election in the Netherlands last year.

According to some commentators, the europhile Ms Lindh might be seen as the embodiment of Swedish liberal values and thus be a target for religious fundamentalists or right-wingers. Inter-party consultations are expected today on what happens next.

Latest polls showed that the vote is now likely to be won by the "no" side, despite hopes by the prime minister, Goran Persson, that the final days of the campaign would see a swing to the euro. Two surveys yesterday found the no side ahead by 48% to 39% while the rest were still undecided.

"The attack on her is an attack on our open society and because of this I feel great anger and dismay," said Mr Persson, adding that security around all government buildings had been tightened.

Earlier, eyewitnesses saw a man chase Ms Lindh up an escalator from the basement of the department store.

"She fell on the floor and the man was stabbing her in the stomach," said Hanna Sundberg. "When he ran away, he threw the knife away."

Ms Sundberg ran up to Ms Lindh who told her: "God, he has stabbed me in the stomach." Soon afterwards, she was carried out of the department store on a stretcher by three paramedics, surrounded by police.

The foreign minister, who has high popularity ratings, has been active in the euro campaign, appealing in particular to undecided women public sector employees, whose vote could swing the outcome. She has also been seen as a likely successor to Mr Persson.

Like other parts of northern Europe, Sweden has a reputation as a relatively safe place. But the country has never quite recovered from the 1986 assassination of the prime minister, Olof Palme, as he walked home from a Stockholm cinema with his wife. That crime has still not been solved.

"For the Swedish people it brings back all the old horrible memories of Olof Palme," the Green party leader, Peter Eriksson, said. "It might mean Swedish politicians need security guards everywhere they go from now on. I sincerely hope it doesn't lead to that."

Tributes to Ms Lindh came from Brussels, where the European Union external relations commissioner Chris Patten called her "a brave and talented politician."

Pat Cox, president of the European parliament, said: "I deplore this senseless attack on Anna Lindh, which has shocked her many friends all over Europe."