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Dear All
Hello
Hope you are okay.
25 years ago, the prime minister of Sweden, Olaf Palme died
after being shot in central Stockholm. His wife was wounded.
They had just left a cinema.
A taxi-driver used his mobile radio to raise the alarm. Two young girls sitting in a car close to the scene of the shooting tried to help the Prime Minister but he had passed away.
Mr Palme, 59 was serving his second term as leader. He believed in open government and shunned tight security.
He had two bodyguards to protect him on official functions but frequently walked unattended through the Swedish capital.
As a young student, Mr Palme travelled a lot, seeing great poverty.
Ultimately, this formed his political and moral views.
Mr Palme is remembered as a campaigner for the working classes and Third World causes. He was first elected as prime minister in 1969.
He became a leading advocate of peace and non violence and campaigned for an end to the war in Vietnam.
He one of the first to highlight the problem of global warming and give support to causes often ignored.
He once said: "I know that the Thatchers and the Reagans will be out in a few years. We have to survive till then."
RIP, Mr Olaf Palme
Take gentle care all
Very sincere wishes
xx
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Olof Palme shunned bodyguards and preferred to dress informally
In Context
Olof Palme's deputy Ingvar Carlsson was chosen to succeed him as Social Democratic party leader.
At the time of his death, Mr Palme had been accused of being pro-Soviet and not safeguarding Sweden's interests. Arrangements had been made for a trip to Moscow to discuss Soviet submarine incursions into Swedish waters.
A drug addict and social outcast, Christer Pettersson, 42, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder in July 1989.
The verdict immediately became controversial as the court's two judges voted for acquittal but six lay assessors disagreed.
In October 1989, Pettersson was cleared. Although several witnesses thought they could place him at the scene of the crime, no motive was ever found for the killing.
Pettersson died in September 2004. He was reported to have confessed to the killing before his death.
The investigation into Olof Palme's death remains open.
In November 2006 police recovered a Smith and Wesson revolver believed to have been used in the murder. It was found in a lake in central Sweden.
Stories From 28 Feb
1986: Swedish prime minister assassinated
2001: At least 10 die in Selby rail crash
1975: Dozens killed in Moorgate Tube crash
1991: Jubilation follows Gulf War ceasefire
2000: Nuclear chief quits over safety scandal
BBC News >>
Country profile
Sweden key facts including timeline
29 October 2001
Confession will not reopen Palme murder case
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