Summary: September 11, 2003: Dismay and grief in Europe after Swedish Minister's death (Rome)
The death of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, stabbed by a mystery killer in Stockholm, has profoundly shaken Sweden and Europe.
Top political leaders from all over Europe expressed their sadness with messages of condolence sent to the Swedish government and flags were flying at half mast over EU buildings in Brussels.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, also in the name of the European Union and the countries about to join, recalled "Lindh's strong commitment and her careful, generous contribution to Europe."
European Commission President Romano Prodi said he was "shocked by the brutal attack" and remembered Lindh's active commitment to constructing our European Union. He also recalled he recent "confident" words regarding Sweden's referendum on the euro.
"A dear friend, a highly committed person," was how she was described by the EU's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana.
The European parliament today observed a minute's silence and the assembly speaker, Pat Cox, recalled Lindt as an "exemplary face of European politics". A tearful European Commissioner Margot Wallstrom said: "Today we have all lost a great deal and Europe has lost a little of its innocence.
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