Stockholm- The Swedish Foreign Ministry expressed "concern" Wedneday over reports that a jailed Swedish-Eritrean journalist has been hospitalized.

"This is a serious humanitarian case," Swedish State Secretary Frank Belfrage told Swedish radio news.

Belfrage said the foreign ministry has not been able to confirm reports suggesting that journalist Dawit Isaak's health had "deteroriated" or that "he had had been moved from one prison to another with perhaps worse conditions."

Efforts were being made to clarify matters, he said.

Stockholm - A Swedish television reporter rejected allegations there was a plot to embarrass Pope Benedict XVI by interviewing a Holocaust denier, news reports said Wednesday.

Swedish television recently aired a documentary on the ultra- conservative Society of Saint Pius X that seeks a restoration of 19th-century Catholicism, and included an interview with British-born Bishop Richard Williamson.

On camera, Williamson denied the existence of gas chambers at the Nazi death camp in Auschwitz as well as the scale of the Holocaust, stating that no more than "200,000 to 300,000" Jews were killed.

Stockholm - The Swedish government Tuesday unveiled a 50- billion-kronor (5.9 billion dollars) package tailored for commercial banks to free up more credits for households and companies.

"It is still difficult for businesses to get credits," Financial Markets Minister Mats Odell said at a joint news conference with Finance Minister Anders Borg.

Banks seeking to issue new shares could also apply for funds from the programme. If the state's stake was above 70 per cent of the new shares, it could decide on restrictions concerning bonus payments and other benefits to executives, the cabinet members said.

Stockholm - Swedish heavy-vehicle maker Scania on Tuesday reported that pre-tax income for the fourth-quarter 2008 was halved, and said it planned to cut some
2,000 employees from its workforce.

Pre-tax income was 1.7 billion kronor (203 million dollars), compared to 3.6 billion kronor in the corresponding business period 2007.

Year-on-year sales in the quarter declined from 24.5 billion kronor to 22.6 billion kronor.

For full-year 2008, the group posted a 5-per-cent increase of net sales to 89.97 billion kronor, while pre-tax income for the full-year was almost flat on 11.9 billion kronor.

Stockholm  - Brazil has been presented a tender for 36 Swedish Gripen jet fighters, Swedish defence group Saab said Monday.

The offer comprises the next generation (NG) of the Saab Gripen, a multi-role fighter, and includes an "industrial cooperation package" with Brazilian participation in developing and producing the plane, the company said.

Last year the Brazilian Air Force listed the Swedish-made jet fighter as a candidate to consider when it modernizes its fleet.

Stockholm - Swedish engineering group  said Monday it planned to cut some 10 per cent of its global wor