The Swedish parliament has made it an offence to seek paid sexual services, as part of a new law to strengthen protection for women against harrassment and violence.

The new law doesn't ban prostitutes but the purchase of their services, with maximum penalty of six months in prison.

It appears to make Sweden the first country to attack prostitution by criminalising the client.

Opponents of the law argue that it would simply drive prostitution underground, and police and prosecutors say the law would be difficult to enforce.