Stockholm- The Swedish government Thursday rejected an appeal for pardon by former Bosnian Serb president Biljana Plavsic, who is serving a 11-year jail term for crimes against humanity.

She was convicted in 2003 by the UN war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for crimes committed during the Bosnian war from 1992 to 1995. It was the second time Plavsic, 78, had appealed for pardon, citing health reasons.

She is serving the sentence at Hinseberg prison, 200 kilometres west of Stockholm. Sweden signed a 1999 agreement with the UN tribunal to offer prison space for convicted war criminals.

Stockholm - Sweden's central bank said Thursday it was to cut its interest rate by 1.75 percentage points to 2.00 per cent, citing "an unexpectedly rapid and clear deterioration in economic activity since October."

The cut aimed at reducing "the fall in production and employment," the bank's board of governors said.

The cut was to take effect December 10, the Riksbank said.

The bank's board of governors said the inflation target of 2 per cent remained.

Stockholm - Swedish heavy-vehicle maker Scania is planning to close its plants for a

Stockholm - Jonas Jacobsson, who won three shooting medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games, was Tuesday elected winner of the Svenska Dagbladet gold medal, one of Sweden's most prestigious sports awards.

Jacobsson was cited for a "heroic come from behind" and was "a true marksman," the jury said.

The 43-year-old athlete, who is paralysed from the waist down, set a world record in the first shooting event - the men's 10-metre air rifle standing competition.

"This really feels like a true recognition as an athlete," Jacobsson told the online edition of Svenska Dagbladet.

Stockholm/Madrid - Cities across Europe are busy planning festivities to ring in the New Year and those planning to uncork a bottle of champagne abroad have many foreign destinations to choose from.

The Swedish capital, Stockholm, is staging a party at the open-air museum in Skansen with thousands of expected guests.

Music and a big fireworks display are on the programme which will take place even in frosty temperatures. "If need be, wear ski trousers," said Marion Freitag of the Swedish tourist information office in Hamburg.

Shortly before midnight, guests wander outdoors to watch the fireworks display over Stockholm.