Parliament honours slain Lindh

Anna Lindh's murder shocked the nation

Tributes have been paid in the Swedish parliament to murdered Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, in the first session there since her death.

Lindh was fatally stabbed last Wednesday in a Stockholm department store. Her killer has not been caught.

Police denied reports on Tuesday that they had made an arrest in the case, and would not confirm separate media suggestions that they know the killer's identity.

In parliament, Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson vowed that Lindh's work towards equality and democracy would be maintained.

The cold from that wind still has us in its grip. But despite the dark that has happened, her memory should be bright Bjorn von Sydow Speaker of parliament

"It was just five days ago that Sweden was shaken by the murder of its foreign minister," Mr Persson said.

The speaker of parliament said an ice-cold wind had swept over the country.

"The cold from that wind still has us in its grip. But despite the dark that has happened, her memory should be bright," said the speaker, Bjorn von Sydow.

International leaders are expected to gather in Stockholm on Friday for a formal memorial service to Lindh. A private funeral will be held later.

As the hunt for Lindh's killer continued, the website of Sweden's biggest-selling newspaper, Expressen, said on Tuesday that police had made an arrest in the case, but the report was swiftly denied by official police spokesmen.

Police are still trying to identify a man caught on CCTV cameras

"Police have made no breakthrough in this investigation but continue to receive tips," spokeswoman Stina Wessling told reporters in Stockholm.

Police have admitted that Lindh's killer may have slipped out of the country.

"There's no certainty that he's in the country, but there's no certainty that he's left," said Stockholm police commissioner Leif Jennekvist on Monday.

The assassin, who used a craft knife to kill Lindh, has eluded capture despite a massive manhunt.

Police announced on Monday that DNA traces had been found on a baseball cap left behind as the killer fled. The DNA does not match any of the 10,000 samples held in Sweden.

We have good witness testimony, we have findings discovered along the escape route. We have secured DNA traces. It is a good investigative situation Leif Jennekvist Stockholm police

The identity of a man caught on CCTV at the NK store shortly before Lindh's murder remains a mystery.

"We want to talk to him...with a very high priority," said Mr Jennekvist.

More than 100 names have been offered to police since the CCTV pictures were published at the weekend, but police say no single strong lead has emerged.

Police are anxious to avoid a repeat of the failure to solve the 1986 murder of Prime Minister Olof Palme, which happened only a few blocks away from the scene of the Lindh murder.

In that case, the murder weapon was never found and a man convicted was freed on appeal.

Mr Jennekvist denied that the Lindh murder hunt was stalling.

Silent tributes are still being paid to Anna Lindh

"We have good witness testimony, we have findings discovered along the escape route. We have secured DNA traces. It is a good investigative situation," he said.

The knife used to kill Lindh is being scrutinised for forensic evidence. UK experts, who have more sophisticated techniques available, have been called in to help.

Interpol has also been contacted by Swedish officers. The DNA from the hat may also be compared with international records.

The murder of Lindh happened only days before Sweden's euro referendum, in which Lindh played a leading role in the Yes campaign.

The vote went ahead as scheduled, with voters rejecting membership of the currency by 56% to 42%.