Cheese relief for stressed Swede

Persson says he does not let any troubles interfere with his sleep

Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson has said he cannot keep away from the cheese-board in times of stress but it never gives him nightmares.

"I stuff myself with cheese by the plateful with four or five pieces of different types at least once a day," he said in an interview.

"I am doing that right now," he told the Expressen newspaper.

Unemployment and its handling of the Asian tsunami that killed many Swedes have hit the government's ratings.

There has been speculation that Mr Persson might not stay on as prime minister and Social Democrat leader for next year's election.

"I eat when I am stressed," he told Expressen.

But he said that neither the cheese, which is known to give people nightmares, nor his low ratings were keeping him up at night.

"One thing I know, sometimes things go well, and other times they go badly," said Mr Persson, who has been in the job for nine years.

"I have the capacity to switch off and walk away, and I sleep well."