Russia says it is expelling two Swedish diplomats in what appears a tit-for-tat response to Stockholm's expulsion last month of two Russian diplomats in an industrial spying scandal.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Swedish Ambassador Mr Sven Hirdman, had been summoned to be told two employees had been declared persona non grata "because of activities deemed damaging to the safety of the Russian State".
Stockholm issued a brief statement saying it "deeply regrets" the Russian move, which could embarrass Foreign Minister Ms Anna Lindh. She said in an interview last month she was "not expecting any persona non grata from Russia".
Russia said at the time it reserved the right to respond to the expulsion of its diplomats by Stockholm.
Ms Nina Ersman, head of the Swedish foreign ministry's press section, declined to say if the two Swedish envoys had already left Russia, nor did she identify them or say what duties they carried out at Sweden's 35-strong Moscow embassy.
Mr Hirdman told reporters the Russian move was baseless: "I will just say they have taken this decision which we consider groundless".
In November, Stockholm expelled the two Russian diplomats allegedly involved in a spy ring uncovered at telecoms giant Ericsson. Three Swedes, including two working at the company's development section, were arrested.
Ericsson declined to say which documents had been leaked, though a senior source said they did not appear to be linked to any military projects.