Stockholm - Sweden, one of the major donors to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) that assists Palestininan refugees in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, on Thursday criticized the Israeli attack on the UN compound in Gaza.

"It is completely unacceptable that UNWRA, the UN's main humanitarian actor in Gaza is attacked in this manner," Swedish International Development Cooperation Minister Gunilla Carlsson said.

Reports suggested that the shells hit the compound earlier Thursday.

Stockholm - The ceremony to mark the bicentenary of the separation in 1809 of Finland and Sweden got under way in Stockholm Thursday in the presence of Swedish King Carl Gustaf and Finnish President Tarja Halonen.

The year 1809 has different connotations in the two countries - if remembered at all as a historic date, as several speakers and historians have observed.

Stockholm  - Swedish King Carl Gustaf is to pay a state visit to Italy along with Queen Silvia in March, the royal palace and Swedish foreign ministry said Wednesday.

The royals were to be accompanied by Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and a delegation of Swedish business leaders.

Swedish State Secretary Frank Belfrage said the March 24-27 visit offered "an opportunity to deepen relations and to discuss concrete projects."

Stockholm - Heavy-vehicle maker Volvo Trucks said Tuesday it was to give notice to 1,020 employees in Sweden, citing "very weak demand" in Europe and no sign of a recovery.

Volvo's Powertrain division, which makes engines and gearboxes used in its heavy vehicles as well as construction machinery, was also to cut some 600 jobs, the Volvo Group said.

Both Volvo Trucks and the Powertrain division are part of the Volvo Group that does not include Volvo Cars, the Swedish carmaker owned by US giant Ford.

Most of the cuts - some 670 jobs - were to affect Volvo Trucks' plant in Umea, northern Sweden.

Stockholm - Veteran forward Henrik Larsson will not join the Swedish squad that later January travels to the United States for two friendlies, raising questions about his future international career.

Larsson, 37, has "not decided on his future football career," Sweden coach Lars Lagerback and his deputy Roland Andersson said in a statement on the Swedish Football Association's website late Thursday.

Although the Helsingborg IF player is currently not in football training he is keeping in shape playing floorball - a popular sport in Sweden.

Stockholm - It is "extremely urgent" to get a ceasefire and end the violence in Gaza including the Israeli ground and air offensive as well as rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Thursday.

Bildt - just back from a visit to the Middle East as part of a European Union delegation - told reporters he was "at present not interested in laying blame" but wanted to "see an end to the violence."