Sweden to offer more aid for Afghanistan reconstruction

Stockholm, November 3, 2004 - Sweden is to provide about $35 million to help Afghanistan in its reconstruction efforts, the official aid agency SIDA said on Wednesday.

"The situation in the country is very difficult and it is absolutely necessary for the world to help it," SIDA said in a statement.

"After the fall of the Taliban regime, there is now a fragile peace," it added.

The aid will be earmarked for security, law and order, and social sectors, as well as for the development of the private and public sectors.

Since 2002, Sweden has given about $86 million in aid to the war-torn country.