Saudi Arabia: Riyadh recalls ambassador to Sweden

Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Sweden, following Swedish criticism of its human rights record and Stockholm’s decision to cancel a long-standing defence co-operation agreement. Riyadh was angered by comments made by foreign minister Margot Wallström to the Swedish parliament in February, in which she criticised Saudi Arabia’s treatment of women and the flogging of Raif Badawi, and called the kingdom a dictatorship.