DUBAI/RIYADH — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recalled its ambassador to Sweden to protest comments made by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom against Saudi Arabia. The official UAE news agency, WAM, says Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash also summoned Sweden's Ambassador to the UAE Jan Thesleff on Wednesday and handed him a formal letter condemning the “abusive remarks” made about Saudi Arabia and its judicial system. The UAE move comes one week after Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador from Sweden. Oman denounced the statements made by the Swedish Foreign Minister in front of the Swedish parliament. In a statement on Wednesday, the Omani Foreign Ministry said that it condemns these statements and considers them as an interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom which is contrary to international law and the principle of norms and relations among countries. The statement issued in Muscat stressed that such statements will reflect negatively on the relations between Sweden and Arab states. Saudi Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani also denounced the offensive statement of the Swedish foreign minister. “The statements from some foreign sources were incompatible with the true face of the Kingdom's judiciary, based on the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's Tradition that guarantee every human being all their legitimate rights and protect their blood, wealth, pride, and honor irrespective of their race, religion, nationality, and language,” he said. The Swedish foreign minister also came under fire from Arab League members for her criticism of Saudi Arabia. Swedish business leaders have warned the government that ending its 10-year-long military cooperation with Saudi Arabia could have far-reaching consequences. Some of them openly questioned the government's handling of the issue. “If you make an enemy of the Arab League it can cause very major damage,” Leif Johansson, chairman of telecoms group Ericsson, told business daily Dagens Industri. — Agencies
