http://www.dn.se/Dagens Nyheter Swedish Newspaper
May 7, 2006
Translated by: Cliss
"HAMAS LEADER THANKS SWEDEN FOR ASYLUM"
Israeli Embassy lodges protest
The Prime minister Atef Adwan arrived in Malmö on Thursday and thanked the Swedish government for being able to move to Sweden. Sweden is the first European country which has allowed a member of the Hamas government to enter.
There have been many political protests in connection with giving Mr. Adwan a visa to Sweden since Hamas has been considered a terrorist organization by the EU and the USA.
The Israeli government has sent a protest with Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson. Also France has criticized Sweden for the visa. Atef Adwan, who participated in a Palestinian asylum conference, is now hoping to get more European contacts for the Palestinian government. "I didn't see any protests when I arrived", he said shortly after he arrived at 'Folkets Park' early in the day.
"I believe that this represents the wishes of the Swedish people. They respect human rights", he said at a press conference.
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There is a photo of Mr. Adwan, surrounded by Palestinian bodyguards. When you get to the main page of Dagens Nyheter, scroll down about 1/3; there is a large photo of him there.