Abbas hails 'historic' Swedish recognition of Palestinian state

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas Thursday hailed a decision by Sweden to officially recognize the state of Palestine, his spokesman said on Thursday.
"President Abbas welcomes Sweden's decision," Nabil Abu Rudeina told reporters, saying the Palestinian leader described the move as "brave and historic".
"This decision comes as a response to Israeli measures in Jerusalem," Abu Rudeina said.
Abbas called for other countries to follow Sweden's lead.
"All countries of the world that are still hesitant to recognise our right to an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as its capital, should follow Sweden's lead," his spokesman quoted him as saying.
Sweden is the first EU member state in western Europe to recognize Palestine.