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Sweden mourns minister's death
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Sweden is grieving for its foreign minister Anna Lindh who died after suffering multiple stab wounds while shopping in an upmarket Stockholm store. The killing of Lindh, who had been foreign minister for the past five years, has been described as one that has robbed Sweden of its "face towards the world." Lindh was stabbed repeatedly Wednesday and died early the following morning despite a 10-hour battle by surgeons to try to stem massive internal bleeding caused by a damaged liver and severed blood vessels in the abdomen. Initially, officials had described her condition as serious but not life-threatening, but the situation worsened overnight. Police are searching for an unidentified man seen fleeing the scene having reportedly thrown away a knife. Described as one of Sweden's most popular politicians, the motive for Lindh's killing is not known, but authorities said they did not think it was politically driven. Nevertheless, Lindh, an enthusiastic pro-euro campaigner, was attacked just days before Sunday's referendum in which Sweden's electorate is to be asked whether it wants the country to join the single currency. Prime Minister Goeran Persson said Thursday the poll will go ahead, but all campaigning has been suspended out of respect. (Full Story) Tributes have been pouring in for Lindh and flags have been flying at half-staff. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said: "She was someone who was full of life ... She represented everything that was wonderful about Sweden and about Europe." German politicians broke off from a budget debate to break the news to shocked politicians. Red roses have been left at the department store NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) and at the hospital Karolinska Hospital where the 46-year-old minister died.(Full Story) The attack has also been seen as one on the Swedish way of life. Persson told a news conference the murder was "unreal" and "hurt the society we've built up and in which we want to live." Lindh did not have a bodyguard with her at the time of the attack. Sweden, a Scandinavian country of nine million, had a reputation as being relatively safe, although the late Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated in Stockholm in 1986. His attacker was never caught.
The government is reassessing security levels for its ministers who are frequently seen shopping or taking the subway on their own. Only Persson and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf have personal security details, said Lars Danielsson, a senior government aide. Police are searching for a man who fled from the scene of the killing after discarding a knife and a green army-style jacket, The Associated Press reported. He is only described as tall and of Swedish appearance, though police are checking CCTV cameras for further clues. A shopper had gone to the help of Lindh after seeing her being chased by a man up the escalator from the basement. The minister is reported to have said: "God, he has stabbed me in the stomach!" Lindh, who was a forceful voice on human rights, was tipped as a potential future prime minister. She had been a critic of Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi taking over the rotating EU presidency as well as outspoken against U.S. President George W. Bush's war on Iraq, describing him as a "lone ranger," Reuters said. A member of the Social Democrats, she had been a member of the Riksdag, or parliament, from 1982-85. She was married and had two children. Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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