Damages awarded over Lindh arrest

Anna Lindh was one of Sweden's most popular politicians

A man arrested over the murder of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh and who was freed without charge has been awarded damages for wrongful arrest.

The man was detained last September, days after Lindh was fatally stabbed in a Stockholm department store, but was released a week later.

His lawyer said the $20,000 award was high because of intense media scrutiny.

Another man, Mijailo Mijailovic, was this week convicted of murdering Lindh. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Shock killing

The man who was wrongfully arrested had sought more than $30,000 in compensation because of suffering he said he endured from media interest, lawyer Gunnar Falk told the Associated Press news agency.

While in custody following his 16 September arrest, Swedish media published his name, as well as detailed information on his private life and comments from his friends.

The 35-year-old man was finally freed on 24 September after police failed to find evidence linking him to the killing.

Mijailovic was arrested the same day and later confessed to the crime. He was convicted on Tuesday.

Lindh, one of Sweden's most popular politicians, was stabbed as she shopped in a Stockholm store on 10 September. She died in hospital the following day.

The killing, which caused widespread shock in Sweden, came in the final days of a campaign in which she had been trying to persuade Swedes to vote in favour of joining the European single currency.

The measure was decisively rejected by 56% to 42%.