Sten Tolgfors faced outcry over leaked plans to help Saudi Arabia build an arms plant
Sweden's defence minister has stepped down, citing the pressure he has faced from the country's media over leaked plans to build a weapons plant in Saudi Arabia.
Sten Tolgfors denied any wrongdoing and insisted the plans to help Saudi Arabia build a facility for anti-tank weapons were consistent with a military agreement between the two countries.
Tolgfors, defence minister since 2007, said he had planned to resign, though at a later date.
"The media reports in recent weeks have facilitated and hastened my decision," he said.
Tolgfors was criticised after Swedish public radio, citing leaked documents, reported that Swedish military agencies were in talks to help Saudi Arabia build a facility for repairs and modifications of anti-tank weapons.
Sweden has no ban on weapons exports to Saudi Arabia, but the reports suggested the deal was set up in a way to avoid a public discussion.
Tolgfors defended the plans, saying they were in line with the military co-operation agreement signed by the two countries in 2005 and renewed in 2010.
Calls for him to resign grew as the leftwing opposition accused the government of trying to cover up its involvement in the Saudi plans.
Peace activists who oppose Sweden's military exports say it is improper for the country to strike military agreements with non-democratic regimes.
Two criminal investigations were started: one into whether a shell company was set up to avoid direct links between a Swedish military agency and the Saudi regime, and the other to determine whether the document leak was a breach of national security.