Stockholm - The Swedish parliament ratified the European Union reform treaty late Thursday after a nine-hour debate.

The Lisbon Treaty was approved by 243 legislators while 39 voted against. Thirteen members of the 349-seat legislature abstained while 54 members did not attend the vote.

EU Affairs Minister Cecilia Malmstrom, who had urged legislators to ratify the treaty, said it contained "new rules" and offered a "more efficient and open EU."

Rejecting the treaty would mean that Sweden would have "poorer means of influencing decisions" and would lose its say, Malmstrom said.

Birgitta Ohlsson, member of Malmstrom's Liberal Party, earlier said the treaty would make the EU more up-to-date.

Stockholm- The Swedish parliament Thursday began to debate ratification of the European Union reform treaty, with opponents scrambling to postpone the ratification.

Five of the seven parties in the foreign affairs committee a week ago supported approval of the Lisbon Treaty in accordance with the government's recommendation.

Stockholm - Swedish engineering group Sandvik said Thursday it planned to cut 1,040 jobs and reduce production over weakened demand mainly in the automotive and engineering industries.

The group has some 47,000 employees worldwide and operations in 130 countries.

Its core operations include tools for metal-working, machinery and equipment for rock excavation, as well as stainless and high-alloy steels and other metals.

Stockholm - Swedish heavy-vehicle maker Scania Wednesday said it has inked a deal to assemble trucks and buses with the government of Iraq.

The deal was announced in connection with a visit to Iraq by Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Bjorling and a delegation of Swedish businesses, including Scania and telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson.

According to Scania, production was due to begin during the third-quarter 2009.

Some 500 trucks were to be assembled at the plant in Iskandariyah, near Baghdad that was to employ 500 people.

Stockholm - Swedish heavy-vehicle maker Volvo Tuesday reported a 12-per-cent drop in year-on-year deliveries of trucks in October.

Gothenburg-based Volvo said it delivered 22,136 trucks during the month.

Citing the prevailing financial uncertainty, the group said "customers continue to be very cautious and are in many cases waiting with their investment decisions."

Demand continued to be weak in Europe and North America, but also in other markets, Volvo said.

In Europe deliveries dropped 28 per cent in October while they fell 21 per cent in North America.

Stockholm- Several forms of sexual behaviour including cross-dressing and transvestism are to be removed from a list of medical "diagnoses" in Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare said Monday.

The agency has in recent years been approached by various organizations including the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU) that have been concerned over the classification system, which is used mainly to compile healthcare statistics.