Sweden Democrat leader Akesson says prepared to talk with all parties

Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Akesson said on Sunday he was prepared to talk and cooperate with all other parties after election results showed gains for his anti-immigration nationalists that he said would translate into real influence.

"We increase our seats in parliament and we see that we will gain huge influence over what happens in Sweden during the coming weeks, months and years," Akesson told a party rally.

He also challenged Ulf Kristersson, the center-right Alliance's candidate for the premiership, to choose between seeking support from the Sweden Democrats and Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.

The eurosceptic, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats are shunned by both the ruling center-left and opposition center-right blocs, leaving both sides short of a majority and raising uncertainty as to who will be able to form a stable government.