Laila Freivalds, the Swedish Foreign Minister resigned on 21 March after having been cornered by the press on her involvement in the closure on 9 February of a far-right party's website.
The Web site, which was planning to publish caricatures of Muhammad like those that led to deadly protests by Muslims all over the world, was contacted by a top Foreign Ministry official who said it should be closed for security reasons.
Although, in the beginning, the minister denied having known about the official's action and having exerted pressure on the hosting company, a later report from the ministry said she had been involved in the decision.
The minister told the media that the cartoons were "offensive to other peoples' religious beliefs" and admitted to the media that she was concerned that these cartoons may damage Sweden. Critics considered this action as an attack to freedom of speech.
Sweden's government is forbidden by law to interfere with what is written in newspapers and on the Internet.
Sweden FM quits over cartoon row (21.03.2006)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4828052.stm
Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds Resigns (21.03.2006)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=axCmZPNbpAF4&a...