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Sweden ends search for suspected submarine

Sweden was involved in its biggest military mobilisation since the Cold War
Sweden was involved in its biggest military mobilisation since the Cold War

The Swedish military has called off its search for a suspected foreign submarine in waters off Stockholm after a week-long hunt.

It brings to an end the country's biggest military mobilisation since the Cold War.

More than 200 troops, stealth ships and helicopters have scoured waters off Stockholm since last Friday.

There had been reports of foreign "underwater activity", suspected to be a Russian sub.

Some smaller forces are to remain in the area.

The military had received what it described as credible reports of activity by foreign submarines or divers using an underwater vehicle.

The vessels were unidentified, but during the 1980s the Swedish navy from time-to-time hunted suspected Soviet submarines in its waters.

The incident heightened tension in a region where governments are increasingly worried about Russian assertiveness since the Ukraine crisis.

In another incident, NATO and Swedish fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian intelligence-gathering plane that briefly entered Estonian airspace on Tuesday.

The Estonian Foreign Ministry formally protested to Russia.