Swedish Foreign Minister Hoisted by own Petard

Sweden's foreign minister Laila Freivalds resigned today, accused of lying about shutting down a Web site that solicited cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Freivalds was criticized for her role in shutting down the Web site of a political party that was planning to publish cartoons of Muhammad like those that led to protests by Muslims in London.

The site was closed Feb. 9 after a Foreign Ministry official contacted the Web hosting company, which critics said was an intrusion on the freedom of speech. Freivalds had told Swedish media she did not order the ministry official to contact the company. A later report from the ministry said she was involved in the decision.
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