http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3108616.stm
Sweden turns back on euro
The effects of Sweden's no vote will be felt throughout Europe
Sweden has voted overwhelmingly to reject the euro in a referendum overshadowed by the killing of Foreign Minister Anna Lindh.
The final result shows 56.1% voting against the euro, with only 41.8% in favour, on a high turnout of 81.2%.
The Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson, said the result was a clear victory for opponents of Swedish Euro-membership.
A BBC correspondent in Stockholm says the victory will be welcomed by opponents of the euro in Britain and Denmark, the other two EU countries outside the eurozone.
FINAL RESULT
Against euro: 56.1%
In favour: 41.8%
Undecided ballots: 1.9%
Turnout: 81.2%
Reluctant Europeans
The outcome confounded some predictions that the Yes campaign would benefit from sympathy votes following Lindh's murder last week.
Lindh was the main face of the Yes campaign, and most opinion polls after her stabbing in a Stockholm department store showed support for the euro rising.
Swedish voters were the first to vote on adopting the euro since the single currency went into circulation in 2002 in 12 of 15 EU countries.
'Worse than expected'
European Commission President Romano Prodi said it would mean Sweden losing influence in EU decision-making.
Outside a polling station: Swedes tell how they voted - and why
"I admit that the result is worse than I expected," he told Swedish television.
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who aims to lead his country into the eurozone, said the Swedish result had "no bearing on our attitude towards the single currency".
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder deplored Sweden's no, but said "the door was not closed and that the possibility of a later Swedish euro entry remained".
In Britain, opponents of joining the single currency said Swedish voters had recognised serious economic problems inside the eurozone and feared losing control of their economy.
EURO MEMBERS
Austria
Belgium
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
A member of the Britain's opposition Conservatives, Michael Ancram, said the Swedish decision reinforced his party's view that joining the euro is not in Britain's economic or political interest.
The Swedish outcome "gives the lie to those who've been saying for years, 'oh, joining the euro is inevitable, and only the British are creating any problems about it'."
Some Swedish business leaders say they will demand compensation from the government for the income lost as a result of staying outside of the eurozone.
Mr Persson has said another euro referendum is now not likely to be held for another 10 years.
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