Swedish centre-right leader Kristersson calls on Democrat PM Lofven to step down

Swedish center-right opposition leader Ulf Kristersson called on Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to step down on Sunday after preliminary election results showed his opposition Alliance coalition in a virtual dead heat with its center-left rivals.

"This government has run its course," Kristersson told a party rally, referring to Lofven's minority cabinet.

"Now it should resign."

Kristersson is the leader of the Moderates and the four-party center-right Alliance's candidate for prime minister.

Sunday's election, as expected, showed gains by the unaligned anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, leaving both the center-right and ruling center-left party blocs well shy of a majority.