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| Sten Tolgfors was criticised in the Swedish press over the Saudi arms deal |
Sweden's
defence minister has resigned after facing criticism over plans to build a
weapons plant in Saudi Arabia.
Sten
Tolgfors "resigned at his own request", a spokesperson said.
Swedish
public radio revealed the confidential plans for the country's Defence Research
Agency to help Riyadh build weapons, including missiles and torpedos, in early
March.
Sweden does
not ban weapons exports to Saudi Arabia, but the secretive nature of the plans
caused controversy.
Earlier
this month Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt confirmed that an initial
deal had been signed with the Saudis in 2005.
Mr Tolgfors
defended the decision, saying the plans were in line with a military
cooperation deal between the two countries.
The
left-wing opposition is now calling for an investigation into the deal, saying
Sweden should not support a "dictatorship" in Saudi Arabia.
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