Europe News

Sweden protests attack on ambassador's vechicle in Russia (Extra)

May 2, 2007, 11:23 GMT

Stockholm - Sweden 'strongly protested' Wednesday to Russia after a mob attacked the official vehicle of Swedish ambassador to Russia Johan Molander in Moscow, in an incident related to the Estonia-Russia tensions, the Foreign Ministry said.

State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Frank Belfrage made the protest to the Russian ambassador to Sweden and has also called for an explaination why Molander's vehicle was attacked, Foreign Ministry spokesman Andre Mkandawire told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The official Swedish banner was torn off the car's bonnet and one of its side view windows was damaged but no one in the ambassador's vehicle was physically harmed, Mkandawire added.

The incident occurred after Molander visited the beleaguered Estonian embassy in Russia, shortly before Estonian ambassador to Russia Marina Kaljurand was attacked at a news conference aimed at highlighting the ongoing blockade of the Estonian embassy by Russian protesters.

The protests were triggered after Estonia recently decided to relocate a Red Army war memorial, sparking violent street protests last weekend.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt earlier this week said that while 'the riots and vandalism we have witnessed in Tallinn in the last few days can only be regretted,' he was convinced Estonia's 'government and agencies are capable of dealing with the situation.'